{
  "id": 9745169,
  "title": "Cabinet wants private companies to pay more towards gas storage",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/cabinet-wants-private-companies-to-pay-more-towards-gas-storage",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-25T09:48:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DutchNews",
    "slug": "dutchnews",
    "url": "https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/09/cabinet-wants-private-companies-to-pay-more-towards-gas-storage/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Dutch government is looking to make private energy companies, such as Essent, Eneco and Vattenfall, responsible for storing gas during the winter months in order to alleviate the country's financial burden as gas market prices continue to rise. Currently, the government operator Energie Beheer Nederland is footing the bill for filling four gas storage facilities in Norg, Grijpskerk, Bergermeer and Alkmaar, but soaring gas prices have resulted in a potential €1 billion loss for the operator. Private companies have no financial motivation to stock up on gas for the winter because prices are expected to fall after autumn. Demand for gas has been driven by European governments striving to meet EU-set targets for filling their gas reserves by November. The Netherlands has recently lowered its target from 74% to 64%, and its current storage level stands at 57.5%. Under EU regulations, the Dutch government is not permitted to retain the stored gas for its own use and must export it to other member states, including the UK, which has limited gas storage facilities. The government aims to shift the cost of gas storage to commercial companies by making it mandatory for them to build up their own reserves. A similar obligation exists in Austria. The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs argues that the current lack of seasonal gas storage facilities in the Netherlands is problematic, as such storage is a crucial component of supply guarantee for suppliers. The ministry questions whether the taxpayers should continue to bear the financial burden or if supply guarantee can be achieved through alternative measures at a lower cost.",
  "summary": "The Dutch government wants to make private companies responsible for storing gas for the winter to cut its liabilities as...",
  "key_points": [
    "Dutch government aims to shift gas storage costs to private companies",
    "Current operator Energie Beheer Nederland faces potential €1 billion loss",
    "Ministry of Economic Affairs questions taxpayer burden"
  ],
  "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."
}