نقلاً عن EU fears panic buying as gas reserves run low

News Brief: Europe’s gas storage levels have fallen below 30 percent, raising concerns of panic buying as the region braces for winter. The situation is exacerbated by rising gas prices following Iranian attacks that have disrupted a key shipping route.

BRUSSELS — Anxiety is growing over Europe’s unusually low gas storage levels as the war in Iran threatens to spark a fight among countries over dwindling global energy supply. The EU requires member countries to maintain gas reserves at 90 percent of capacity by winter — a measure implemented after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. However, this year’s colder-than-average winter has depleted those reserves to under 30 percent as of March, marking the lowest level since 2022. With gas prices soaring after Iranian attacks effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz — through which 20 percent of the world’s liquefied natural gas passes, including 6 percent bound for Europe — the task of refilling those reserves by winter carries a greater risk.

Original Source: www.politico.eu