Switzerland addresses potential energy shortfall

Switzerland has extended a directive instructing its gas suppliers to prepare reserves for next winter, the government stated on Wednesday, citing possible shortages.

The order mandates the storage of the equivalent of 15% of annual Swiss consumption in facilities in neighboring countries, as Switzerland itself has no domestic gas storage capacity.

The reserve was originally introduced last May for the 2022-23 winter season following the cessation of Russian supplies as a result of Western sanctions.

“The EU obliges member states without their own storage capacity to store 15% of their annual consumption for winter 2023/24 too,” the government said in a statement. “Switzerland is hereby continuing to show solidarity in helping to fill Europe’s storage facilities,” it added.

The government noted, however, that the 15% reserve may not fully cover domestic shortfalls in an extreme scenario.

Official data shows that natural gas covers around 15% of Switzerland’s total energy consumption. Just under half of its gas imports were directly or indirectly received from Russia.

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