Germany’s gas storage facilities are 57% full, VNG says it is ready for winter — OilPrice

As of September 27, gas storage facilities in Germany were around 57% full. At the same time, major gas importer VNG said it would be able to meet its obligations to customers even in the event of a cold winter. OilPrice reports, citing an interview VNG CEO Ulf Heitmüller gave to Reuters.

Diversification of supplies

According to Heitmüller, Germany’s gas system is now more resilient than it was in 2022. He attributed this to expanded access to liquefied natural gas and an increase in the number of supply sources.

VNG imports natural gas from Norway and has recently signed supply agreements with Azerbaijan and Algeria. The company diversified its supplier portfolio after Russian pipeline gas stopped flowing to Germany following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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Agreement with Sonatrach

In 2024, VNG began purchasing gas in Algeria. In the summer, the Leipzig-based company signed a new agreement with Algeria’s state energy company Sonatrach for additional gas volumes from 2027.

Heitmüller described a broad and resilient supply portfolio as important for the long-term provision of customers and further diversification. According to Gas Infrastructure Europe, EU gas storage facilities were 70% full as of September 27, above Germany’s level. Germany’s gas storage capacity is the fourth largest in the world, and the lower level of reserves has raised concerns about supply security in the event of a significantly colder winter.