Gas storage tanks are filling up “quicker than expected” – but there is criticism of the gas levy
Created: 08/28/2022, 20:18
By: Sandra Kathe
The filling levels of German gas storage facilities are approaching the 85 percent mark, which is reducing the fear of acute gas shortages in winter.
But there are also problems.
Berlin – With a filling level of 81.78 percent, the gas storage facilities in Germany are already close to the target of 85 percent at the end of August, which was originally supposed to be reached on October 1st.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs announced to
Der Spiegel
that the mark could probably be reached several weeks earlier than expected, at the beginning of September, and that the filling levels would then already be heading towards the 95 percent target for November 1st.
This is initially good news for politics and business in Germany, because the high filling levels in the gas storage facilities reduce the likelihood that Germany will find itself in acute gas supply emergency situations as a result of the conflict situation with Russia as a result of the Ukraine conflict in winter.
However, the development is not a reason to lift all warnings, and due to the planned gas levy, there is currently renewed criticism of the Ministry of Economic Affairs under Green Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck.
Germany is one of the countries in Europe with the largest storage sources for gas.
The high filling levels therefore give cause for cautious optimism.
(Iconic image) © Uwe Anspach/dpa
High gas storage levels despite the crisis: Ministry of Economics is cautiously optimistic
He was cautiously optimistic with regard to the filling levels of the gas storage facilities at the weekend and said that Germany was "prepared as a country" and "the companies can then withdraw as planned over the winter in order to also supply industry and households".
Nevertheless, the situation remains challenging and savings are still necessary.
In addition to the warnings from politicians, there could also be a financially noticeable factor that could ensure fuel economy in consumption, which again came under sharp criticism over the weekend: the planned gas levy, which is intended to drive up the already rising prices for consumers even further.
The surcharge is intended to compensate for the sharp rise in costs for major importers due to the shortage of Russian gas supplies, in order to protect them from bankruptcy and the energy system from collapsing.
All gas customers should pay an additional 2.4 cents per kilowatt hour.
Criticism of the gas surcharge as a result of the energy crisis: possible profit for the wrong people
The planned price adjustment is also criticized by the coalition partners of Habeck's ruling party in the traffic light coalition, because companies that are doing well economically could also benefit from the levy, while economically weak private individuals and companies are asked to pay.
The federal government has promised corrections to the gas surcharge, but these are considered legally complicated.
On the other hand, the fact that the proportion of Russian gas deliveries in purchases has fallen significantly after Germany's great dependence on Russian gas is seen as positive.
According to the Economics Ministry, just nine and a half percent of gas consumption in August arrived via the Russian pipelines.
Compensation would be about new sources of supply, such as from France, Norway or the Netherlands.
Russia recently announced that it would interrupt gas supplies via the Nord Stream 1 Baltic Sea pipeline for three days at the end of August.
From August 31 to September 2, no gas will flow to Germany due to maintenance work.
After that, 33 million cubic meters of natural gas should be delivered daily.
This corresponds to the 20 percent of the daily maximum output to which Russia reduced deliveries a few weeks ago.
(ska with AFP/dpa)