“Judging by the available information, Russia is fulfilling its long-term contracts with European partners, but its exports to Europe have decreased compared to the level of 2019.
The IEA believes that Russia could do more to increase the availability of gas in Europe and ensure that storage facilities are filled to the required level in preparation for the upcoming winter heating season, ”the statement said.
As noted by the IEA, Europe in the coming winter may "face stress tests" in the form of sudden cold snaps and unplanned outages.
At the same time, gas reserves in European storage facilities are significantly lower than the average level for five years.
According to the agency, an increase in gas supplies to Europe from Russia could have a positive effect on the reputation of the Russian side.
“It is also an opportunity for Russia to underline its reputation as a reliable supplier to the European market,” the message says.
Earlier, Amos Hochstein, adviser to the US State Department for energy security, said that in the event of a cold winter in certain regions of Europe, there may not be enough gas to heat homes.