The federal government is concerned about the high gas prices and the empty storage facilities and is therefore considering state intervention.

The FAZ in Berlin learned that it is currently being examined whether to set minimum storage levels or set up a strategic gas reserve.

Other options are also on the table, for which scientific analyzes have been commissioned.

Christian Geinitz

Business correspondent in Berlin

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By the spring, the federal government wants to decide which way to go in order to secure the gas supply in the future.

"We will do everything we can to ensure that a storage debacle like the one at the moment does not happen again."

The German gas storage facilities are currently only 40 percent full, less than at the same time in previous years.

Most recently, RWE CEO Markus Krebber spoke out in favor of state gas reserves.

Under Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens), there are signs of a reversal in gas policy.

His predecessors, most recently Peter Altmaier (CDU), had always stated that the supply was secure and that the main supplier, Russia, was reliably fulfilling its contracts.

A sentence makes you sit up and take notice

Altmaiers Haus described the low storage levels as sufficient and normal, since there is no incentive to buy and store gas in times of high prices. This assessment, which the specialist level continued to represent at the beginning of Habeck's term in office, now seems to be crumbling. It is becoming increasingly clear that the supply, storage and dependence on Russia are "huge problems", it said on Wednesday.

Officially, little could be learned from the ministry, probably also in order not to create unrest among the already unsettled consumers.

“We are monitoring the situation very closely.

The security of supply is currently guaranteed, we currently have no signs of supply bottlenecks," said a spokeswoman.

The sentence, however, makes one sit up and take notice: “But one thing is clear: we have to improve the possibilities for the next winter and strengthen our provision here.” Habeck had already said in an interview with the “Spiegel”: “We have to improve the possibilities for the next to make provisions for the winter so that the gas storage tanks are well filled.”

Habeck, who is also responsible for climate protection, apparently found many employees in the ministry who are very fond of Russia and view gas policy from this perspective.

In the house, there is talk of a "Moscow connection" and a "guest strand", which stretched back to the term of office of SPD Minister Sigmar Gabriel between 2013 and 2017.

The former SPD chairman and Chancellor Gerhard Schröder still maintains close ties to Russia and its head of state Vladimir Putin.

Among other things, Schröder is chairman of the shareholders' committee at the gas pipeline operator Nord Stream, which belongs to the Russian state-owned company Gazprom.

So far, politicians have had little opportunity to intervene in the gas market or to influence stocks.

However, there is the method of so-called "long-term options", which was last used before Christmas and at the beginning of the year.

These are special tenders from the market area manager for the German gas market, the company Trading Hub Europe, which carries out this in agreement with the federal government to fill gas storage tanks at specific times at specific points.

In December, 50 million euros were paid for 5 gigawatt hours, the second tender is for 12 gigawatt hours.