Germany's gas reserves face crucial energy supply test

"In early February, German media outlets reported on the strains affecting Germany's gas reserves. The news magazine Focus warned that the "cold snap devours our gas reserves." At the same time, the TV broadcaster ntv said that "Germany's gas reserves would theoretically last for about six more weeks," and warned: "There is hardly any room for additional strain.""

"The focus on gas reserves is a consequence of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, the German government decided that it no longer wanted to buy oil and gas from Russia. That led to the question of whether Germany could satisfy its energy needs without Russian gas. By the following year, it was evident that Germany could manage. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This was due, in part, to the diversification of import sources."

"Sufficient gas reserves in Germany The current winter in Germany is the harshest in years, prompting questions about supply security. However, Susanne Ungrad, the press spokesperson for the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), told DW that "the gas supply is secured." This, she said, was due to the "well-developed LNG infrastructure in Germany and Europe" and the "main supply via Norwegian pipeline gas." Fiete Wulff is equally sanguine about Germany's reserves. The press spokesperson of the Federal Network Agency told DW that "at present, we see no threat to the gas supply." He added that "gas storage fill-levels are an important indicator, but not the only one." A significant "share of our gas supply comes via pipelines and LNG shipments""

Early-February cold snap raised concerns about German gas reserves and prompted urgent media warnings. The halt of Russian oil and gas purchases in 2022 created questions about meeting national energy needs without Russian supplies. Rapid diversification replaced Russian gas with imports from the United States, Norway and other sources, and import routes shifted toward increasing LNG shipments by sea. LNG terminals were planned, approved and brought online quickly. Government and Federal Network Agency spokespeople report that gas supply is secured, citing well-developed LNG infrastructure, substantial pipeline supplies from Norway, and that storage levels are only one of several supply indicators.

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