Gas supplies to Germany have essentially continued as normal to date, but stocks at gas storage facilities that are built up as a safeguard in the event of particularly cold winter days recently fell to less than a third. “We've fixed this problem,” Habeck said, adding: “Even if prices did continue to skyrocket, or if Russia reduced the gas supply or halted it completely – none of which has occurred”, the supply of natural gas would remain secure.

The gas storage facilities are primarily needed to cover peak loads on cold winter days, so the German market is not supplied from the storage facilities alone: instead, the facilities supplement ongoing energy procurement from gas imports. The traders who book the storage capacity decide on filling levels. 

Making provisions for next winter

As a precaution for next winter, the Federal Government is currently working on statutory regulations to guarantee minimum storage volumes. The idea is to “require storage owners to ensure the storage facilities are full before winter sets in”, the Minister explained.

As long as Germany is still dependent on natural gas, coal and oil, there is a need to create reserves. As in the gas sector, said Habeck, the Federal Government would ensure that reserves of coal were also available for the time being, with a view to securing the energy supply in the medium term. The government would “ensure that security of supply continues to be consistently maintained, even in the event of restrictions on raw material.” Thanks to its strategic oil reserves, Germany was already on the safe side, he said, so the country could be sure of getting through the winter safely. 

Energy transition increasingly important

In this connection, the Minister stressed the importance of the energy transition. Even “those who are not so keen on climate protection should have realised by now that ending our dependence on fossil energy sources wherever possible is a crucial strategic issue – even a matter of security policy.” 

The Minister went on to explain that targeted diversification was important to securing the energy supply for Germany and the EU at competitive prices in the near future. He said the goal must be to be able to “decide questions of energy supply and sovereignty on our own territory.” 

This is why the Federal Government also supported the idea of importing liquefied petroleum gas and being able to use its own terminals for this purpose. There are plans to build such terminals in Brunsbüttel, Wilhelmshaven and Stade, for example. However, Germany already purchases liquefied gas from neighbouring European countries.

Diversifying gas supply across the EU 

For weeks, there have been fears across the EU that the current conflict with Russia could lead to a disruption of gas supplies. Up until recently, according to the EU Commission, the EU was able to meet just under a quarter of its energy needs with gas, most of which is imported. And 40 per cent of imports were supplied by the Russian company Gazprom.

Nevertheless, the EU Commission sees the gas supply situation within the EU as being secure. In fact, several countries are reportedly able to increase their supply of liquefied gas to the EU, including Azerbaijan, Egypt, Nigeria and Norway. At the Munich Security Conference last weekend, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU would be on the safe side this winter even if Russia were to stop gas supplies completely.