The European Commission proposed on Monday to extend for a year, until March 2024, a voluntary reduction in gas demand by 15%, which member states have been applying since last summer as an emergency measure in the context of the energy crisis, Reuters and Agerpres reported.

“It is entirely possible that markets will remain tight in the coming months,” and continued austerity measures “ensure we are prepared for next winter,” European Energy Minister Kadri Simson said in a statement.

Between August and January 2022, according to the latest data centralized by the Community executive, EU countries cut gas consumption by around 19.2%, on average, above the 15% level they set as a target.

The largest reduction was recorded in Lithuania (-40.5%) and Sweden (-40.2%), and the smallest – in Ireland (-0.3%).

Germany is among the countries where gas consumption has significantly decreased

Among the EU countries with the largest population, consumption decreased the most in Germany (-19.4%), followed by Italy (-18.6%), France (-17.1%), Poland (-14.9%) and Spain ( – 13.7%).

The European Commission believes that if the attempt to reduce gas consumption by an average of 15% compared to the normal level is continued, it will help both to guarantee energy security and to reduce price volatility.

“This significantly contributed to easing the pressure caused by the cessation of Russian supplies,” said the European Commission, which estimates a reduction of 42 billion cubic meters of gas.

But the EU executive did not specify how much of that savings comes from lower voluntary consumption and how much corresponds to falling demand, for example from more energy-intensive industries that shut down production due to high prices.

The EU wants even greater independence from Russian gas imports

The commission, which is publishing the proposal at the end of the Northern Hemisphere winter, when countries will start storing gas again for the next winter season, believes that the reduction in consumption will help meet the goal of reaching 90% of full storage by November 2023.

After a generally warm winter in Europe, inventories are currently at 55.7%, above the 40% threshold considered critical for smooth replenishment at the end of March, and well above the 25.66% level a year ago, just weeks after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In addition to the voluntary extension, Brussels also wants member states to send data on savings to the EC monthly, rather than every two months, and with information by sector.

The European Commission’s proposal will be discussed as an emergency procedure, meaning it can be adopted by 27 member states without the need for negotiations with the European Parliament, and will be discussed in the Council of Energy Ministers on March 28.