{
  "id": 10909631,
  "title": "Energie: Reiche sichert Gasversorgung stärker ab",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/energie-reiche-sichert-gasversorgung-starker-ab",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-30T09:06:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/energie-reiche-sichert-gasversorgung-staerker-ab/100258589.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Bundeswirtschaftsministerin Katherina Reiche (CDU) has strengthened the gas supply in Germany in response to low gas storage levels, according to a Bundesministerium spokesperson. Reiche decided, in consultation with Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), that the state-owned energy company Sefe should increase gas storage, a spokesperson for the ministry announced. The primary reason for this step is the ongoing geopolitical risks. \"From the perspective of crisis prevention, this step is an important additional contribution to increase the resilience of Germany's gas supply,\" said Reiche. Sefe has been instructed by the ministry to procure and store 8 Terawatt-hours of gas by December 15. The current gas storage levels are relatively low at 58 percent, causing concerns about winter gas supply. Typically, large distributors buy gas cheaply in the summer, store it, and sell it for a profit in the winter to cover storage costs. This summer-winter spread is an important economic incentive for filling gas storage. However, due to the Iran war, the Hormuz Strait, a crucial route for gas supply, remains blocked, leading to high wholesale prices. This makes gas storage economically only marginally attractive, as gas must be bought more expensively in the summer than it can be sold in the winter based on current expectations. Green energy politician Michael Kellner had accused Reiche of lack of foresight. The minister had always emphasized that the ministry closely monitors the gas market development and has prepared instruments for various scenarios in case of need - especially with regard to the geopolitical situation. The instruction to Sefe to increase gas storage is one of these prepared instruments. Sefe will decide on the quantities and timing of storage, obtaining additional deliveries, said the spokesperson. It remains \"without ifs and buts\" that all other market players are expected to fulfill their obligation to store gas for the winter. Reiche had emphasized government readiness for each scenario three weeks ago in the Bundestag. In a Ministry report for a Bundestag Economic Committee special session, it was stated at the end of September that a gas shortage in the coming winter was not to be expected based on the latest knowledge. At the same time, it was said that the ministry had been in talks with Sefe to have the company store more gas. Sefe had told the ministry at the time that it had bought gas but had not received an instruction from the ministry. Sefe, formerly Gazprom Germania and a subsidiary of the Russian state-owned Gazprom, was nationalized following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the energy crisis. The EU Commission has determined that the Bund must privatize Sefe again by the end of 2028. A strategic gas reserve is planned by Reiche to cover risks. The minister had mentioned crisis situations where energy flows to Germany were disrupted. The ministry spokesperson said the construction of the gas reserve would begin after a corresponding legislative change in 2027. The financing of the gas reserve is open. Reiche had said there were two financing options: one is a levy on gas customers, the other is financing from the federal budget. There may also be a mixed model.",
  "summary": "Die Füllstände der Gasspeicher in Deutschland sind vergleichsweise niedrig. Ministerin Reiche hatte gesagt, verschiedene Instrumente seien vorbereitet. Eines wird nun angewendet.",
  "key_points": [],
  "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."
}