Germany's industry lobby seeks flexible gas storage refills

Germany’s industry lobby is urging for more flexible gas storage rules. They believe this change will help tackle high energy costs affecting manufacturers and households. Currently, there is a levy on gas storage. This fee helps cover costs for operators refilling storage facilities, which was introduced after the energy crisis began in 2022. The BDI industry association argues that easing these rules, or removing the levy, would lower costs for companies struggling with high energy prices. Since the 2022 crisis, manufacturers have faced ongoing downturns. German households are also dealing with increased energy bills. This year, Europe has seen challenges with gas inventories. During winter, gas reserves dropped due to higher withdrawal rates, leading to concerns about meeting the European Union's requirement of 90% storage capacity by November 1. To address these issues, the EU has allowed member states some flexibility, extending the storage deadline to December 1 under certain conditions. However, the BDI insists that more adjustments are needed for both national and EU storage targets. Recently, representatives for German utilities suggested lowering the national target to 80%. They argue that current market conditions have made it more expensive to stockpile gas. The BDI highlighted that energy prices in Germany are not competitive, with industrial gas prices significantly higher than those in other countries.