“Appeals aren’t enough. If storage levels fall significantly short of last year’s, the federal government must take responsibility and provide clarity,” says Dirk Panter, Saxony’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy.
Security of supply should not depend solely on whether suppliers purchase enough gas given the current high wholesale prices. “It is the federal government’s responsibility to take appropriate measures in a timely manner if it becomes apparent that the statutory storage level requirements will not be met. The minister must explain how she intends to ensure the supply to households and the economy—and she must do so before a critical situation arises,” the minister continued.
Under the current Gas Storage Level Regulation, a fill level requirement of 80 percent generally applies to most storage facilities as of November 1; different requirements apply to certain porous storage facilities. Overall, this corresponds to a target of around 70 percent.
“Germany must not pin its hopes on a mild winter, falling prices, or uninterrupted international gas supplies. Security of supply is not a matter of good weather, nor is it a game of playing for time. The federal government must take precautions now and disclose which instruments are available in an emergency,” Panter demands.
Establish a Strategic Gas Reserve
In addition, Saxony is once again calling for swift action to establish a national strategic gas reserve. This reserve must be built up in addition to the volumes procured on the market and used exclusively in clearly defined crisis situations when short-term crises overwhelm the regular gas market.
“We must be better prepared for crisis situations. A strategic gas reserve does not replace the market, but rather provides additional security for extraordinary circumstances,” explains Panter.
Saxony had already raised this demand at the Conference of Energy Ministers. The motion to establish a strategic gas reserve was unanimously adopted by the Conference of Energy Ministers in May 2026, along with other proposals from Saxony.
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