Europe’s high gas storage level at the beginning of this summer, in combination with sufficient gas supplies from other sources apart from Russia, will ensure a reduction in dependence on Russian pipeline gas, according to the Summer Supply Outlook 2024 of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) on Wednesday.
ENTSOG stressed that storage capability plays an essential role in ensuring supply security by offering seasonal flexibility, which is needed during the winter season.
According to the outlook, Europe’s gas infrastructure, including new projects commissioned last year, can efficiently reduce dependence on Russian supplies if European countries cooperate.
The outlook disclosed that even in the event of full disruptions to Russian supplies to Europe, cooperation between European countries would allow for efficient gas injection in storage systems this summer and in preparation for the winter.
In addition to gas storage, the organization suggested that Europe may need to take additional measures to avoid the risk of demand curtailment in high-demand situations.
Should there be early, large storage withdrawals after the winter, it could result in low storage levels, impacting the gas system’s flexibility. Therefore, ENTSOG advocated for gas injection during the summer to maintain storage at an adequate level until the end of the winter.
In the scenario where the availability of LNG to Europe is significantly limited with no pipeline supplies from Russia, the results would demonstrate the risk of full depletion of storage and potential demand curtailment.
By Murat Temizer
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr