The Czech Republic even has 70.5 percent, while Hungary only has 36.5 percent. However, in an EU comparison, Austria has relatively high gas storage capacities, which roughly correspond to the consumption of a whole year. The storage facilities of the non-EU member England are 94 percent full. Things are very different in Sweden, with just 11.3 percent.
Domestic supply “guaranteed without restrictions”
According to today’s management report by Austrian Grid Management AG (AGGM), the domestic supply is “guaranteed without restrictions”. The price situation on the markets is “currently more volatile again and yesterday was 130 euros/MWh”. The AGGM writes about the memory status: “The memory will continue to be filled, but to a lesser extent than in the last week.”
The chronological table of the storage level in the “Network Distribution Area East”, which is relevant for Austria, is interesting: In April 2021, the level was almost 30 percent of the possible and then rose to almost 80 percent by October 2021. Since then, things have gone downhill steeply, until a trend reversal occurred in mid-April and storage levels have now increased to around 55 percent, according to today’s figures from AGGM.
Climate protection minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) pointed out today that less gas came from Russia again on Friday. OMV announced that it would be able to procure gas on the spot market should this be necessary. “The storage level in Austria is currently just over 40 percent, which corresponds to a capacity of around 38.9 terawatt hours. However, the strategically important Haidach gas storage facility in Salzburg is not connected to the Austrian gas network, but to the German gas network. Monthly consumption at this time of year amounts to just under four terawatt hours, with around two-thirds of this coming from domestic industry,” the minister calculated. In the previous year, Austria consumed around 96 TWh of gas.
“For Russia, gas supplies are a tool in the current dispute”
Referring to the war in Ukraine, Gewessler said: “For Russia, gas deliveries are a tool in the current conflict. We must not be under any illusions. We are prepared for all scenarios, including a complete stop to deliveries from Russia.”
NEOS energy spokeswoman Karin Doppelbauer, on the other hand, sees reason for concern. She wants to know: “How much gas has already been bought on the free market? Where is that supposed to come from?” It “finally needs answers from the energy minister and not vague promises for the winter”.
Ex-E-Control boss Walter Boltz said today that Russia’s alleged technical problems with Nord Stream 1 are probably no coincidence, but politically motivated – when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario arrived in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on a special train. Boltz expects that Russia will continue to throttle gas supplies – with drastic consequences: Gas prices will double for most private households because the wholesale prices have only reached private individuals to a small extent, Boltz said on Friday in the “Ö1-Mittagsjournal “.
Source: Nachrichten
