Published on 7 June 2024
https://doi.org/10.18485/sres.2024.3.1.1
АBSTRACT: Natural gas storage plays a pivotal role in ensuring a continuous and stable supply of natural gas . While conventional definitions of energy security may not explicitly enumerate energy storage as a key component, it is evident that storage is crucial for maintaining the stability of the entire energy system. As a critical instrument of flexibility, natural gas storage facilitates a reliable supply during periods of exceptionally high demand or disruptions in supply. The onset of the armed conflict in Ukraine prompted an immediate response from the European Union, which mandated a minimum percentage of natural gas storage capacity to be in place before the commencement of the heating season. This response was formalized through an amendment to Regulation No. 2017/1938 on natural gas supply security measures, which introduced additional provisions related to natural gas storage . These provisions not only established mandatory occupancy levels for storage facilities but also imposed certification requirements for natural gas storage operators. Such measures were designed to ensure that operators’ activities would not compromise the security of supply to the European Union and its member states. The objective of this paper is to examine the European Union’s approach to natural gas storage prior to 2021, with a particular focus on the period marked by the dramatic increase in energy prices that was exacerbated by the armed conflict in Ukraine.
KEY WORDS: natural gas storage, European Union, energy security, supply security.
