MOSCOW, March 13, 2025 (BSS/TASS) - Gas reserves in Europe's underground gas storage (UGS) facilities have fallen to around 36% for the first time in more than three years, while pumping into UGS facilities has slowed down amid a fall in temperature this week, according to data provided by Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE). Net withdrawal from European UGS facilities since the beginning of the heating season has reached over 65.5 bln cubic meters (bcm).

Gas withdrawal from UGS facilities in EU countries amounted to 324 mln cubic meters (mcm) on March 11, according to GIE. Pumping has fallen to 34 mcm. Gas volumes in UGS facilities total 40.2 bcm, which is the sixth-highest level for early March since records started.

European UGS facilities are currently 36.23% full (10.47 percentage points lower than the average as of this date in the past five years). The heating season in Europe started on October 29, 2024, with EU countries having withdrawn over 70 bcm of gas from UGS facilities since then.

The share of wind generation in the EU's electricity output averaged 13% in February, and it has been at 16% in March. The gas purchase price averaged $542 per 1,000 cubic meters in Europe in February, and it has equaled around $463 in early March.

LNG supplies from terminals to Europe's gas transport system were at a record level last month. Facilities for regasification of liquefied gas and its further pumping into Europe's pipelines are loaded by 54% of their capacity now.