In light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its consequences for the EU’s security of gas supply situation, Europex welcomes the European Commission’s call for enhanced coordination on natural gas storage and the proposal to amend two regulations: Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 concerning measures to safeguard the security of gas supply and Regulation (EU) 715/2009 on conditions for access to natural gas transmission networks. In its proposal, the European Commission foresees an obligatory 80% minimum gas storage level by 1 November 2022 to ensure sufficient supplies for the 2022/2023 heating season, mandatory certification of Storage System Operators (SSOs) and an exemption for gas storage users from transmission tariffs at entry and exit points. This target will be raised to 90% as of 1 November from 2023 onwards. Europex fully shares the Commission’s assessment that any measures taken must not inordinately distort the efficient functioning of the EU’s internal gas market.
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