German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche has instructed state-owned energy company SEFE to increase its purchases and storage of natural gas, in a move aimed at strengthening Germany’s energy supply security ahead of winter amid ongoing geopolitical risks and relatively low gas storage levels.
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Germany’s Economy Ministry said the decision was taken in coordination with Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Handelsblatt reported that the directive was issued late Tuesday evening. A SEFE spokesperson confirmed that the company had received instructions from the ministry to purchase and store 8 terawatt-hours of gas by December 15.
The move comes as Germany’s gas storage facilities are currently around 58% full, a level described in reports as relatively low compared with typical preparations for the winter season. Germany’s total storage capacity stands at approximately 247 terawatt-hours, according to industry data cited by the German Press Agency (dpa).
The decision marks a shift from the ministry’s position in mid-September, when it welcomed increased gas purchasing and storage activity by SEFE but emphasized that the company had made its decision independently on commercial grounds and had not received an official directive from the ministry.
The Economy Ministry said continued geopolitical risks were a key factor behind activating the measure, describing the additional purchases by SEFE as a further contribution to strengthening the resilience of Germany’s gas supply. At the same time, the ministry stressed that responsibility for storage preparations remains with market participants, while SEFE will independently determine the timing and quantities of its purchases and storage operations within the scope of the directive.
The measure is also part of a broader German plan to strengthen gas reserves in response to exceptional supply risks. The government has previously announced plans to establish a strategic gas reserve, with the buildup expected to begin gradually following planned legislative changes. The strategic reserve would remain separate from the regular market-based winter storage mechanism.
The current measure therefore focuses on increasing gas storage ahead of the 2026–2027 winter, but does not in itself indicate an impending natural gas shortage. Previous government reports had indicated that a supply shortfall during the winter was not expected based on the information available at the time.
