Jun 12, 2025
EU Plans to Permit More Flexible Natural Gas Storage Goals
Negotiators from the European Parliament and EU member states have reached a preliminary agreement to relax the bloc's natural gas storage targets by allowing a 10 percentage point deviation from the 90% storage goal, according to a draft document reported by Bloomberg. This increased flexibility addresses concerns from several major gas-consuming nations in Europe regarding the potential need to subsidize storage filling during economically unfavorable periods or risk not meeting the targets.
Countries will also have an extended timeframe to achieve the 90% target, moving away from the fixed November 1 deadline. The EU and the European Parliament are expected to finalize negotiations on these gas storage targets by June 24.
Earlier this year, EU members concurred on providing greater flexibility for natural gas storage goals by extending the timeframe for achieving 90% full storage before winter and permitting up to a 10 percentage point deviation. The EU supported a proposal to extend the gas storage regulation by two years, but member states also sought more flexibility to prevent price spikes under tight market conditions.
The proposed change suggests that the 90% filling target should be met any time between October 1 and December 1, instead of the current November 1 deadline. Additionally, in cases of unfavorable market conditions, such as potential manipulations, member states may deviate by up to 10% from the filling target.
The EU's negotiating mandate with the European Parliament also states that intermediary storage targets for each member state in February, May, July, and September are non-binding and merely indicative, allowing for flexibility for market participants throughout the year while aiming for predictable storage filling.
Countries will also have an extended timeframe to achieve the 90% target, moving away from the fixed November 1 deadline. The EU and the European Parliament are expected to finalize negotiations on these gas storage targets by June 24.
Earlier this year, EU members concurred on providing greater flexibility for natural gas storage goals by extending the timeframe for achieving 90% full storage before winter and permitting up to a 10 percentage point deviation. The EU supported a proposal to extend the gas storage regulation by two years, but member states also sought more flexibility to prevent price spikes under tight market conditions.
The proposed change suggests that the 90% filling target should be met any time between October 1 and December 1, instead of the current November 1 deadline. Additionally, in cases of unfavorable market conditions, such as potential manipulations, member states may deviate by up to 10% from the filling target.
The EU's negotiating mandate with the European Parliament also states that intermediary storage targets for each member state in February, May, July, and September are non-binding and merely indicative, allowing for flexibility for market participants throughout the year while aiming for predictable storage filling.