MOSCOW — Europe’s energy system is once again under strain as gas reserves across the European Union fall to what Russian officials describe as dangerously low levels, raising urgent questions about the bloc’s preparedness for the next winter cycle.
The latest warning came from Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller, who pointed to rapidly declining storage levels across Europe, reinforcing concerns already highlighted in the Europe gas prices surge making summer storage injection unprofitable analysis.
According to Gas Infrastructure Europe data cited by Gazprom, reserves have dropped sharply to around 28%, aligning with broader reporting that European gas storage is hovering near historic lows for this time of year, intensifying risks to energy security.
“The level of gas reserves in EU storage facilities can be described as critically low for modern Europe. On the same date in 2025, it was at 33.5%, and in 2024, it was 58.7%,” Miller said.
The numbers underscore a structural decline. Analysts had already warned that storage levels could fall toward 22–27% by late March, far below historical norms, as global energy disruptions continue to strain supply chains.
For decades, Europe depended on Russian natural gas as a stable and cost-effective energy backbone. That relationship has been steadily dismantled, but the current crisis suggests the transition has left significant gaps in supply reliability.
The shift away from pipeline gas has forced Europe to lean heavily on liquefied natural gas imports, a strategy that has introduced higher costs and greater exposure to global price volatility.
Recent geopolitical tensions have further intensified the situation. The ongoing conflict impacting key transit routes has disrupted flows and pushed prices sharply higher, contributing to what many analysts describe as a renewed phase of Europe’s energy crisis.
Gazprom’s warning extends beyond current levels to future risks.
Miller also added that gas reserves in EU underground storage facilities may not even reach 70% by the start of the next withdrawal season.
This projection challenges the EU’s traditional goal of filling storage to around 90% before winter. Recent discussions suggest targets may be lowered to 80%, reflecting the difficulty of securing sufficient supply amid tightening global markets.
Despite calls from the European Commission to begin refilling early, withdrawals continue across multiple countries.
The gas withdrawal season in Europe continues despite the European Commission’s calls to start pumping gas into storage facilities as early as possible.
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Sweden remain dependent on stored reserves, highlighting persistent demand pressures.
The situation is particularly severe among the bloc’s largest economies.
Meanwhile, the storage facilities of Europe’s largest gas consumers, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, are only 17.4% full on average.
In the Netherlands, the situation has reached unprecedented levels.
According to Gas Infrastructure Europe, only 5.3% of the gas reserves were left in the Netherlands’ underground gas storage facilities as of March 28, which is the lowest level on record.
This aligns with broader data showing European storage levels near 27–29% in mid-March, significantly below seasonal averages and reinforcing concerns about long-term supply stability.
The crisis also reflects deeper structural challenges. Europe’s pivot away from Russian energy has increased dependence on volatile global markets, while supply disruptions linked to geopolitical conflicts have compounded the strain.
Internal EU discussions now emphasize urgency, with policymakers pushing for coordinated action to stabilize markets and accelerate storage refilling before winter demand returns.
Yet the path forward remains uncertain. High prices, constrained supply, and geopolitical instability continue to shape a volatile environment, leaving Europe facing one of its most serious energy tests in recent years.
As the continent navigates this critical moment, the gap between political strategy and energy realities is becoming increasingly visible, raising fundamental questions about the long-term sustainability of Europe’s current approach.
