{
  "id": 10449999,
  "title": "Euronews explains: Does the EU have enough gas for winter?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/euronews-explains-does-the-eu-have-enough-gas-for-winter",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T13:13:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euronews",
    "slug": "euronews",
    "url": "https://www.euronews.com/2026/09/28/euronews-explains-does-the-eu-have-enough-gas-for-winter"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The European Union is concerned that its gas reserves may not be sufficient to withstand the winter season, prompting warnings that a supply crisis could arise. Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen highlighted that gas storage levels are \"exceptionally low\" after a summer during which hot and dry weather increased gas consumption for electricity generation, leaving less gas to replenish underground reserves. The global market is also affected by the ongoing conflict between the US and Israel in Iran, which has reduced liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries through the Strait of Hormuz to just 15% to 25% of pre-war levels.\n\nQatar, a major gas supplier, has extended a force majeure notice on LNG shipments to Asian and European customers for another month, with deliveries to the latter expected to resume in December. This has left EU countries scrambling to refill their storage levels before winter, without incurring extremely high costs.\n\nUnder EU law, member states must store natural gas underground during periods of abundance and reasonable prices, with the aim of releasing it when demand rises, particularly in winter. By 1 November, EU countries typically aim to reach a 90% storage level, but due to rising gas prices caused by the Middle East disruption, the European Commission allowed member states to aim for a 75% to 80% fill level in March.\n\nLow gas storage levels are currently present in Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, and Slovenia, which lack gas storage facilities. However, they must still cooperate with other member states to secure their gas reserves.\n\nWhile there are no immediate risks to the security of supply, EU storage levels remain lower than in 2022, averaging around 70%. Countries like Latvia, the Netherlands, and Germany have particularly low fill levels, while Latvia, the Netherlands, and Germany are expected to experience no winter shortages. Nonetheless, the market remains uncertain, with the final verdict expected on 8 October when the EU's association of transmission system operators will release its winter gas supply outlook.",
  "summary": "With winter approaching and gas storage at record-low levels, EU governments are bracing for soaring costs as they compete with Asian buyers to secure supplies and avert power outages.",
  "key_points": [
    "EU gas reserves low, risking winter supply crisis",
    "Global market impact from Iran conflict reduces LNG deliveries",
    "EU aims for 75%-80% gas storage by March, now at 70%"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}