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Natural gas reservoirs in Europe will be emptied during the heating winter season and next year will start with an even more serious energy crisis. The head of the International Energy Agency said it on Wednesday.
Europe's reservoirs are now filled to 90% of their capacities.
According to Fatih Birol, chief executive of the IEA in Paris, 90% of Europe's gas reserves will be enough to get through the coming winter with only minor difficulties and without political or technical shocks.
High winter demand will deplete reserves to 25-30%. Storage capacity will then have to be restocked or Europe will experience problems.
"This winter is difficult, but next winter could also be very difficult," Birol told reporters in Finland.