EU members seek flexibility on 90% gas storage filling rule
European Union countries are discussing a proposal that would allow them to deviate from the bloc's target to fill natural gas storage to 90% before winter, if market conditions make this prohibitively expensive, a negotiating document showed.
The European Commission this month proposed extending the EU's binding deadlines to fill gas storage for two more years, into 2026 and 2027. But the plan, which EU countries and lawmakers must approve, has run into resistance from governments concerned the rules inflate gas prices.
A draft negotiation document being discussed among countries this week and reviewed by Reuters, would allow each country to deviate by up to 5% from the EU target to fill gas storage by 90%, "if market conditions are unfavorable for filling underground gas storage facilities."
The proposed change comes on top of other flexibilities the member states have already drafted that have been previously reported, including that the 90% target will no longer have a fixed deadline of November 1.
Instead, countries would need to fill their storage caverns to 90% by any time between October 1 and December 1.
Countries including Germany, France and the Netherlands are concerned that the rules push up prices, by indicating to the market that European buyers are obliged to buy large volumes of gas by fixed deadlines, creating an opportunity to manipulate prices.
The countries' proposal would also make voluntary the EU's intermediate targets to fill gas storage in the months leading up to November.
The gas storage goals were introduced in 2022 after Russia slashed deliveries after its invasion of Ukraine, to ensure EU countries had a buffer of stored fuel during winter when demand for heating peaks.
The negotiating proposal was prepared by Poland, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency and chairs negotiations among EU member states. A spokesperson for Poland's EU presidency declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations.
Once countries agree their negotiating position, which diplomats expect could be done in a matter of weeks, they will negotiate the final gas storage rules for 2026 and 2027 with the European Parliament.
The draft document said Poland would work on further changes to the proposal on issues including changes in market conditions and the use of low-calorific gas.
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