MOSCOW, September 21. /TASS/. Net gas injection (the difference between injection and withdrawal volumes) by EU countries into underground gas storage facilities since the start of the summer season in April 2026 has exceeded 45 bln cubic meters, according to TASS calculations based on data from Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE).

Thus, Europe has so far managed to inject into underground storage facilities only 67% of the volumes needed for the upcoming winter. Average gas injection rates into EU storage facilities in September are the highest in the past four years. At the same time, gas prices at European hubs are at their highest since late 2022, indicating the European Union’s frantic efforts to fill its storage facilities for the winter even at very high prices. However, Europe has already missed the summer months that were most favorable for injections.

As of September 19, European underground gas storage facilities were 69.59% full (15.84 percentage points below the five-year average for that date), compared with 81.4% a year earlier. This is the lowest level for that date since records began in 2011. EU storage facilities contain around 76.2 bln cubic meters of gas, 13.4 bln cubic meters less than last year and the lowest level since 2013. Gazprom forecast that gas inventories in European underground storage facilities may not even reach 75% by the next heating season.

TASS previously reported that Europe risks entering the heating season with record-low gas inventories. Average replenishment rates at EU underground storage facilities in July were among the lowest since records began in 2011 and accelerated only slightly in August. At such rates, Europe may have its storage facilities only 70-75% full by the traditional start of the fall-winter period, which would be an all-time low for the beginning of the heating season.

Under European Commission requirements, EU countries must ensure that their gas storage facilities are 90% full between October 1 and December 1 each year. A 10% flexibility margin is allowed in the event of difficult storage-filling conditions. Thus, net injection into European storage facilities by the start of the 2026-2027 fall-winter period must amount to at least 68 bln cubic meters to meet the storage target.

Storage-filling rates this year have been heavily affected by Europe losing the "battle" with Asia for available liquefied natural gas supplies during the Middle East conflict, higher fuel prices, and extreme heat in June and July. During such summer periods, demand for electricity for cooling and air conditioning systems rises sharply. Gas is one of the main sources of electricity generation alongside nuclear, wind, and solar power.