Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
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German lobby group says gas reserves are at historically low levels and could run out in the event of a cold winter
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The wars in Russia and Iran have significantly lowered profit margins, thus dampening economic incentive to fill reserves
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Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he has no plans of stepping down after the AfD hammered his CDU in Saxony-Anhalt’s state election on Sunday
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Several thousand protesters turned out across the country to voice opposition to the far-right party, which nearly half of Germans say should not be allowed to form a state government
Here are the latest headlines from across Germany on Tuesday, September 8:
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Skip next section Storage association warns Germany’s gas reserves are dangerously low09/08/2026September 8, 2026
Storage association warns Germany’s gas reserves are dangerously low
Germany’s gas and hydrogen storage association INES (Initiative for Energy Storage) on Tuesday said the country’s gas storage facilities are at historically low levels as summer heat fades and winter approaches.
In a paper presented in Berlin, INES said reserves were at 53% of capacity as of early September, the lowest they have been at this point in time over the past 15 years.
The lobby group said levels could be brought up to 77% by November but only if input is dramatically increased.
INES said 77% capacity would be enough to cover consumer and industry needs if winter temperatures remain normal but added, “77% capacity will not be enough in the event of extremely cold temperatures.”
With profit margins minimized by the wars in Russia and Iran, traders have little financial incentive to store natural gas according to INES. Storage facility operators are therefore calling on the German government to lower storage fees.
The Federal Ministry of Economy on the other hand, sees no reason for panic, adding that new LNG terminals off the German coast and pipeline deliveries from Norway can easily cover any potential shortages.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5M7YnSkip next section Welcome to our coverage09/08/2026September 8, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Elizabeth Schumacher Editor
Guten Morgen from DW’s Bonn newsroom.
After the drama of Sunday’s Saxony-Anhalt state elections we’ll look at the fallout from the far-right Alternative for Germany’s (AfD) drubbing of competitors as the rest of the country looks on in disbelief. Despite expressing “deep shock,” Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to stay in office and forge ahead with his reform program.
Among the other issues that we will cover in the wake of that seismic political result, will be the gas and hydrogen storage association INES’ warning that gas storage levels are historically low due to lack of profit incentive, as well as this week’s budget battles in Berlin, the presentation of this year’s PISA study and pop singer Xaiver Naidoo being charged with incitement.
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