EU Energy Platform: EU attracted over 13.4 bcm of gas in first joint gas purchasing tender

In a press point this morning, Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič has announced the successful outcome of the first-ever international tender for joint purchasing of EU gas supplies.

By leveraging its collective economic weight, the EU managed to attract bids from a total number of 25 supplying companies equivalent to more than 13.4 billion cubic meters of gas (bcm) – surpassing the 11.6 bcm of joint demand that EU companies submitted through the recently established AggregateEU mechanism.

The international suppliers have already been matched with the European customers on AggregateEU by service provider PRISMA, amounting to an overall volume of 10.9 bcm. This covers 8.7 bcm of gas via pipeline and 2.2 bcm of LNG.

EU companies will now be able to negotiate the terms of the supply contracts directly with the supplying companies, with no involvement of the Commission. 

Speaking earlier today, Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič said:

This is a remarkable success for an instrument that did not exist some five months ago. The Commission has played its role as aggregator and matchmaker, and now it is for the respective parties to conclude their agreements. It is a win-win for all parties.

This exercise will support the EU countries' efforts to meet their gas storage obligations for next winter, while strengthening our collective energy security at competitive prices. Further tenders will follow every two months until the end of year. The next tendering round is expected to be launched in the second half of June.

Demand aggregation and joint purchasing is a flagship initiative under the EU Energy Platform, which was created to work on the diversification of EU gas supplies after Russia invaded Ukraine and Europe collectively decided to end its dependence on Russian fossil fuel imports. 

Related links

• EU Energy Platform
• AggregateEU – questions and answers
• EC AV recording of the press point by Vice-President Šefčovič
• Vice-President Šefčovič remarks on the results of the first joint EU gas purchasing tender
• News: EU Energy Platform: Commission invites international suppliers to respond to first EU tender for 11.6bcm of joint gas purchases (10/05/2023)
• Video: EU energy platform (22 EU languages)