Germany's Ministry for Economic Affairs has said it does not expect a gas shortage this coming winter, according to a paper issued on Thursday.
The ministry added that it takes seriously the fact that German gas storage facilities are significantly less full than in previous years. "At the same time, security of supply cannot be judged solely on the basis of storage levels," the paper said.
Gas is supplied in particular via pipelines from Norway, liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals and from neighbouring European countries.
"At the same time, lower storage levels reduce the buffer for exceptional situations," the ministry added,
Storage levels of 60 to 70% at the start of winter, combined with import capacity, would be sufficient to meet average winter demand. German gas storage facilities are currently around 50% full.
Gas prices are unusually high this summer due to the war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which is why traders are buying less gas for sale in winter. But the ministry stressed that "a tight market situation with high prices does not yet constitute a supply crisis."
The ministry believes the private sector bears the primary responsibility and that winter preparedness "is fundamentally the responsibility of gas companies and traders."
Nevertheless, the federal government is "preparing the necessary courses of action so that they can be implemented quickly and in a targeted manner should the situation deteriorate", according to the ministry.