Statement following reports on the reduction of the gas storage filling target

The Government has decided to comply with the European Commission’s call to fill Dutch gas storage facilities to a lesser extent in the run-up to winter. The filling target is therefore being reduced from 115 TWh to 93 TWh. This is a policy decision taken by the Government. 
The filling target of 115 TWh set by the Minister is based on the advice of Gasunie Transport Services and gas demand during the coldest winter of the past 30 years. The underlying principle is that all gas customers can continue to be supplied even under such circumstances.   

A lower fill rate does not automatically mean that there will be insufficient gas available this coming winter or that security of supply will be jeopardised. However, it does mean that the Netherlands is less well prepared for a potentially cold winter.