Germany will reach its gas stockfill targets this year regardless of temperatures, according to the country's storage operators association INES.
Germany will reach 1 February, 1 October and 1 November with a fill level above the target for each date, according to INES' modelling. Germany's 1 February target is 30pc, 80pc by 1 October and 90pc by 1 November.
If temperatures are in line with the long-term average in Germany this year, the equivalent of 2016 temperatures, Germany would make it to 1 February with a 62pc fill level. It would then have a 94pc fill level by 1 October and sites would be at capacity by 1 November.
If weather is colder than normal, the equivalent to temperatures in 2010, Germany would have a 24pc fill level by the end of the winter in mid-March. This would not endanger the following targets, which would be met with the same stockfill as under the "normal" scenario.
If temperatures are higher than the norm, in line with temperatures in 2020, German storage sites would be at 73pc of capacity by the end of the winter.
"It is technically possible to completely refill the gas storage facilities in summer 2025, regardless of the temperature level", INES said.
INES' model takes into account the end of gas transit through Ukraine from 1 January, and the corresponding increase in German exports since.
The association does not expect any gas shortage for the remainder of this winter, despite the "now complete failure of gas transport through Ukraine".
