The expert questioned the possibility of fully loading gas storage facilities in Europe by November

European countries are unlikely to be able to reach the target level of gas storage capacity of 90% by November 1, despite record volumes of injection. This opinion was shared by Igbal Guliyev, Deputy Director of the MGIMO International Institute of Energy Policy and Diplomacy, Doctor of Economics, in an interview with Izvestia on May 5.

The level of reserves in Europe's underground gas storage (UGS) in May was still 24.5 billion cubic meters (36%) lower than a year earlier, TASS reported, citing data from Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE).

"Possible easing of the requirements for the UGS occupancy rate is currently being discussed. In particular, they may lower the target to 83% by November 1 or even to 75%, but with a postponement to December 1," Guliyev said.

According to him, such discussions are already putting pressure on spot gas prices.

"So far, the situation on the European market looks stable, especially against the background of a decrease in LNG imports by China. However, this factor will only have a short—term effect," Guliyev concluded.

Unfreezing prices: why Europe is again threatened by gas shortages

The cost of blue fuel may stay at high levels for a long time to come

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted on April 23 that Moscow sees that a number of EU countries are ready to buy Russian gas again, and is ready to negotiate on this issue. He stressed that Russia has never politicized the issue of fuel supplies to the EU.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on April 17 that the topic of the EU's return to gas supplies from Russia periodically arises against the background of deteriorating relations between Europe and the United States, but the EU's policy in this area needs to be assessed based on specific facts, she noted.