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Germany orders SEFE to increase natural gas storage
German Economic Minister Katherina Reiche, in coordination with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has issued a formal instruction to the state-owned energy company SEFE to increase natural gas storage. The directive requires SEFE to procure and store 8 terawatt-hours of gas by December 15.
The move is a response to low gas storage levels in Germany, which were reported at approximately 58 percent in late September—significantly lower than in previous years. The ministry cited ongoing geopolitical risks, specifically mentioning the impact of the Iran-US conflict and the blockade of the Strait of Hormus, which has driven up wholesale gas prices and made summer refilling less economically attractive for private traders.
While the ministry maintains that a gas shortage is not currently expected, the instruction serves as a measure to increase the resilience of the national supply. The Green Party has criticized the decision, accusing the minister of a lack of foresight and reacting too late to the declining storage levels. Looking ahead, the German government intends to establish a strategic gas reserve following legislative changes expected in 2027.
Entities
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action · Friedrich Merz · Germany · Green Party · Katherina Reiche · SEFE
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] SEFE has been ordered to procure and store 8 terawatt-hours of gas by December 15. www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de · www.faz.net · www.wz.de
- [● 6 SOURCES] Economic Minister Katherina Reiche instructed the state-owned company SEFE to increase natural gas storage. www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.epochtimes.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de · www.faz.net · +1 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The total capacity of German gas storage is approximately 247 terawatt-hours. www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.ikz-online.de
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The government plans to establish a strategic gas reserve following a legislative change in 2027. www.faz.net
- [● 6 SOURCES] The decision to instruct SEFE was made in coordination with Chancellor Friedrich Merz due to ongoing geopolitical risks. www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.epochtimes.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de · www.faz.net · +1 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Green Party accused Minister Reiche of a lack of planning and reacting too late to low storage levels. www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de · www.oldenburger-onlinezeitung.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] The blockade of the Strait of Hormus due to the Iran-US conflict has contributed to high wholesale gas prices. www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.epochtimes.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de · www.wz.de
- [DISPUTED] German gas storage levels were at approximately 57.6 to 58 percent as of late September. www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.epochtimes.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de · www.tichyseinblick.de