Europe's gas storage draining at record pace, Russian media report

According to TASS calculations based on GIE data, only ten days have passed since storage peaked at 74.96%, yet total withdrawals are 2.2 times the five-year average. Since the heating season began on October 28, nearly 3 bcm has been withdrawn. TASS says storage was 72.98% full on November 6, the lowest for that date since tracking began in 2011.

Vedomosti, citing Gazprom, writes that daily withdrawals on November 6 were the highest ever for that date, 83 million cubic metres (23.9%) above the previous record. Gazprom also says storage in Germany, Europe's largest, fell below 60%, which it calls exceptional for the first week of November. Lenta.ru repeats these figures and says the rapid drawdown creates risks for winter supply.

The sources differ in origin: TASS cites its own calculations, while Vedomosti and Lenta.ru relay a Gazprom statement. TASS adds that the European Commission, expecting a very mild winter, had been prepared to lower this year's fill target to 80%.