Politics · Germany · 1 day ago
Germany orders extra gas storage as ministry faces questions over amount
Germany’s Economy Minister Katherina Reiche has ordered Sefe, a state-owned energy company, to buy and store an additional 8 terawatt-hours of gas for winter.
The ministry says the move is meant to strengthen security of supply amid continuing geopolitical risks, including disruption to shipping routes.
It has not explained why it chose exactly 8 terawatt-hours.
Green Party energy politician Michael Kellner says the decision is not properly justified and that the extra gas is too little to meet the legal storage target.
German gas stores are 59.4% full, below levels seen at comparable times in previous years.
The Federal Network Agency says imports remain stable and sees no immediate threat to winter supply.
The legal target is about 70% full by November 1, and Sefe has been instructed to add the extra gas.
Economy Minister Katherina Reiche has ordered state-owned energy company Sefe to buy an additional 8 terawatt-hours of gas for winter storage.
The ministry has not explained how it arrived at that amount.
The ministry says the order is intended to strengthen security of supply amid continuing geopolitical risks.
Green politician Michael Kellner says the amount is unjustified and too small to meet the November storage target.
Germany’s gas storage facilities are 59.4% full, while the Federal Network Agency says imports are stable and sees no immediate risk to winter supply.
- Who
- Economy Minister Katherina Reiche ordered Sefe to buy additional gas.
- What
- Sefe is to procure 8 terawatt-hours for storage. The ministry has not explained why it chose that amount.
- When
- The order was reported on October 10, 2026. The sources do not state when it was issued.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- The ministry cited continuing geopolitical risks and said the purchase would strengthen the resilience of Germany’s gas supply.
German Economy Ministry
Michael Kellner
Reason for the order
German Economy Ministry
The ministry says continuing geopolitical risks make the purchase necessary to strengthen supply resilience.
Michael Kellner
Kellner says the ministry has not justified why it chose 8 terawatt-hours.
Amount and storage target
German Economy Ministry
The ministry describes 8 terawatt-hours as a limited market intervention.
Michael Kellner
Kellner says the amount is only 3% of total storage capacity and is not enough to reach the November 1 target.
The decision is the result of balancing security of supply against possible market distortion.
It seems Ms Reiche is rolling dice.
The main reason for this step lies in the continuing geopolitical risks.
The incentive to store gas now is not there in the market.
The ministry said the geopolitical situation was different and companies did not expect the conflict to last this long.
A debate continued over whether the ministry should require additional gas storage.
The ministry’s order for Sefe to procure an additional 8 terawatt-hours was reported.
- Additional gas
- 8 terawatt-hours
- Storage level
- 59.4%
- Storage target date
- November 1
- Target storage level
- Around 70% nationwide
- State-owned buyer
- Sefe
Sources
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