Business · Energy & Commodities · 8 hrs ago
Europe withdraws 3 bcm of gas from storage since heating season began
Since the heating season began on October 28, European countries have withdrawn more than 3 bcm of stored gas.
The withdrawals are happening at a record pace, with daily records set on seven of the first 11 days.
Storage was 72.65% full on November 7, far below the five-year average for that date and lower than a year earlier.
Europe began the season with record-low reserves, and the amount held in EU storage was the lowest since 2013.
Net withdrawals have already used 5% of the gas stored over summer, as colder weather increases demand for heating.
The European Commission normally asks EU countries to fill storage to 90% between October 1 and December 1, with some flexibility when filling is difficult.
The Commission was prepared to lower this year's target to 80%, citing expectations of a very mild winter.
Europe has withdrawn more than 3 billion cubic meters of gas from underground storage since the heating season began on October 28, according to TASS calculations based on Gas Infrastructure Europe data.
The withdrawal pace is a record for the start of the heating season, and the volume withdrawn is 2.2 times the five-year average for the period.
Net withdrawals have exceeded 2.5 billion cubic meters, more than triple the five-year average.
As of November 7, European storage facilities were 72.65% full, the lowest level recorded for that date since tracking began in 2011.
- Who
- European countries.
- What
- They have withdrawn more than 3 billion cubic meters of gas from underground storage since the start of the heating season.
- When
- Since October 28; the report was published on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- Underground gas storage facilities in Europe.
- Why
- Gas is being withdrawn at the start of the heating season. The sources do not state a more specific reason.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
European underground storage facilities reached a peak fill level of 74.96%.
The heating season began, and Europe began withdrawing gas from storage.
European storage facilities were 72.65% full.
TASS reported that withdrawals since October 28 had exceeded 3 billion cubic meters.
- Withdrawals since October 28
- More than 3 bcm
- Net withdrawals
- More than 2.5 bcm
- Storage fill on November 7
- 72.65%
- Summer gas injected
- 51.2 bcm
- EU storage volume
- Less than 80 bcm