EU adopts regulation on gas storage

BRUSSELS, June 27 (KUNA) -- European Union energy ministers Monday adopted a regulation aiming to ensure that gas storage capacities in the EU are filled before the winter season and can be shared between EU member states, despite disruptions in the gas market. This is an important step in strengthening the security of the EU's energy supply in the context of the war in Ukraine, said the ministers, who are meeting in Luxembourg today, in a statement.
The regulation provides that underground gas storage on EU member states' territory must be filled to at least 80% of their capacity before the winter of 2022/2023 and to 90% before the following winter periods. Overall, the EU will attempt collectively to fill 85% of the total underground gas storage capacity in the EU in 2022.
As gas storage capacities and national situations vary greatly, depending on their situation, EU member states will be able to partially meet the storage target by counting stocks of liquefied natural gas (LNG) or alternative fuels, noted the statement.
EU Some member states do not have storage facilities on their territory, and so the regulation provides that they should store 15% of their annual domestic gas consumption in stocks located in other EU member states .
The regulation also provides for compulsory certification of all underground gas storage site operators by the authorities of the member states concerned. The aim of this certification is to avoid the potential risks of external influence on critical storage infrastructures, which could jeopardise the security of the EU's energy supply , it noted. (end) nk.rk