Germany's state-owned utility company Uniper says the country's gas storage caverns are being refilled too slowly, raising the possibility of a shortage by next winter when withdrawals of these volumes begin, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
The statement raises some doubt over reassurances from the European Commission this week that there was "no immediate concern" over refilling of the bloc's reserves that supplement purchases over winter when power and heating demand rises.
While the Commission's statement referred to the bloc as a whole, Germany is by far its most populous member and consumer of gas.
Storage levels are rising since March, but too slow, according to the report, citing CEO Michael Lewis telling the German newspaper. If the reserves are not filled quickly, the bloc will have supply issues come winter.
Data from Gas Infrastructure Europe shows storage levels just above 38% capacity, compared with nearly 47% at the same time last year while in Germany, Reuters said that level was 30.64% down from 38.65% a year earlier.
Unlike last year when energy markets were operating in relatively normal times, Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has halted movement of about a fifth of the world's hydrocarbon energy supplies.
That has pushed Asian customers, the main buyers of Middle Eastern gas, to turn to North America, thrusting them and European importers into a bidding war.
has emailed Uniper seeking further comment on the refilling of reserves.
(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)