Citing the ongoing Middle East conflict, the Dutch government will lower its gas
storage target to 64% of capacity, a 10 percentage-point reduction, to ease
upward pressure on wholesale prices. The climate ministry said the new target
equals about 93 bln kWh and is expected to be reached between Oct 1 and Dec 1.
The ministry said that level would be sufficient for a normal winter; average
winter drawdown over the past five seasons was roughly 70 bln kWh. State gas
operator Gasunie said preparedness for a potential cold winter has declined. The
move follows an EU Commission call earlier this year for countries to lower gas
reserve targets.
