Gas storage

Reinforced EU rules on gas storage

After a prolonged period of volatile and high energy prices in 2021-22 due to lower-than-usual storage filling levels, among many factors, as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the beginning of 2022, the need for well-filled gas storage for future winters was amplified.

On 23 March 2022, the Commission published a Communication on security of supply and affordable energy prices (COM/2022/138), together with a proposal for a new regulation on gas storage. The Gas Storage Regulation (EU/2022/1032) was adopted in June 2022 and applies until the end of 2025.

On 5 March 2025, in the context of continued volatility and uncertainty in the global energy landscape, the Commission proposed to prolong the regulation for 2 years (COM/2025/99), until the end of 2027, following its report on the regulation (COM/2025/98). 

On the same date, the Commission published a recommendation (C/2025/1481) to EU countries to consider the current market conditions and introduce flexibility when deciding on measures to refill their storages next summer. 

The Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the Commission’s proposal in June and the adopted Regulation EU/2025/1733 was published on 10 September 2025. 

The Gas Storage Regulation

Under the Gas Security of Supply Regulation (EU/2017/1938), amended by the Gas Storage Regulation (EU/2025/1733), gas storage facilities are considered critical infrastructure and an updated certification process was introduced for all storage operators in the EU to reduce the risks of outside interference. This contributes to reducing the security of supply risks and supports the EU's competitiveness by ensuring that storage facilities are properly filled.

Operators of storage sites should report the filling levels to national authorities and EU countries should monitor the filling levels on a monthly basis and report to the Commission.

Another important element is the burden-sharing mechanism. Some EU countries have storage larger than their own national consumption, while others do not have any storage facilities. However, all EU countries benefit from the guaranteed filling levels, so the burden-sharing mechanism makes sure that not only EU countries with storage facilities pay for the security of supply costs of the minimum filling target.

To ensure security of gas supply and to comply with the gas storage target of 90% each year, EU countries with underground gas storage facilities define the intermediate targets for the 1st of February, May, July and September. The trajectories are based on the filling rates of the previous 5 years, and the Commission and EU countries regularly monitor the storage filling trajectories within the Gas Coordination Group.

Gas storage levels

Certification for storage system operators

Gas storage facilities are critical for ensuring the security of gas supply. The mandatory certification of all gas storage system operators was introduced in order to avoid potential risks resulting from non-EU-country influence over storage infrastructure.

The certifying authorities were given until 2 January 2024 to issue draft certification decisions and notify them to the Commission. The Commission issues an opinion for each draft certification decision submitted by the certifying authorities and publishes it. After taking outmost account of the Commission’s opinion, the certifying authority issues the certification decision.

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