The natural gas supplies in Italy they remain above the 75% threshold, a level that allows you to face the winter with greater peace of mind compared to other large member states. According to data released by Gas Infrastructure Europe (Gie)the filling rate of Italian storage stands at 75.72%, equal to 153.95 terawatt hours (TWh).
This is a slightly lower value compared to the 160.1 TWh recorded in the same period of 2024, but still sufficient to maintain theItaly in first place in Europa.
The comparison with Germany and Europe
The comparison with the Germania is particularly significant. Despite having a structurally superior storage capacity, the Teutonic country sees its reserves fall below 60%, with a level of 59.78% equal to 150.1 TWh, compared to 206.7 TWh a year ago. At a European level, the aggregate data shows inventories at 64.78%, equal to 740.1 TWh, approximately 120 TWh less than the 858.2 TWh in December 2024.
The decline in inventories recorded in several countries is largely linked toclimate trend. After relatively mild days before Christmas, Europe is facing a hardening of temperatures, with temperatures near or below freezing in cities such as Paris, London and Berlin. This scenario has already had an impact on gas consumption, especially for home heating.
Gas prices rising at Christmas
On the gas price front, methane recorded an increase of 1.3% on 24 December, settling at 28.1 euros per megawatt hour, a level which was then maintained also on Boxing Day. The temporary decline in industrial consumption during the holidays was not enough to compensate the increase in demand linked to the cold. However, prices remain at relatively low levels compared to the peaks of recent years.
Supplies from abroad also contribute to supporting the market balance. The deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by sea continue regularly, favored by weaker demand in Asia, while flows from Norway are in order.
Because Italian stocks are strategic
The level of Italian reserves takes on a strategic value not only for national security, but also for price stability. Having well-filled storage means being able to cope with sudden increases in demand or possible interruptions in supplies, reducing the risk of shocks on the market.
In Italy the main storage operator is Snam, through its subsidiary Stogit. There are nine active sites: Brugherio, Bordolano, Cortemaggiore, Fiume Treste, Minerbio, Ripalta, Sabbioncello, Sergnano and Settala. The overall maximum capacity of the fields managed by Stogit is approximately 17 billion cubic meters.
What will happen in the next few months
Il monitoring climatic conditions remain a key factor in understanding how the market. In the event of prolonged cold spells, demand could rapidly increase in Northern Europe, with effects on prices and inventories.
Italy’s position is stable and helps protect families and businesses from possible changes in the energy market. Stocks above 75% currently allow us to face the winter with a wider safety margin than in other European countries, in a phase in which the balance between supply and demand remains particularly delicate.
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