Middle East conflict adds to pressure to fill Dutch gas reserves

The Netherlands is lagging behind its European partners in filling its gas reserves for the winter, just as a key supplier in the Middle East has announced further restrictions on supplies caused by the conflict between the US and Iran.

QatarEnergy extended “force majeure” restrictions on its LNG cargoes until the end of September, affecting a total of 24 cargoes to European customers.

The company signed a contract to supply up to 3.5 million tonnes of liquified gas to the Netherlands per annum, which came into force this year, but the invocation of force majeure has put this commitment in jeopardy.

The Netherlands’ gas reserves are currently at 36.6% capacity, well below the EU average of 56%.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which triggered a spike in prices, the EU set a target of reaching 90% capacity by November 1. Since then European nations have had to find alternatives to Russian gas.

The Netherlands achieved this level for the first three years, but in 2025 it peaked at just 74% and at the start of April this year the four Dutch storage facilities were at less than 5% capacity.

Energy minister Stientje van Veldhoven said last month she was “confident” that the gas reserves would be filled for the winter, but admitted that the government needed to be “vigilant”.

Demand for gas has also increased during the summer as more consumer and businesses install air conditioning, putting more pressure on energy.

The Dutch government also has agreements to buy gas from Norway and the United States, or could resort to the open market.

The wholesale price of gas on the TTF market, operated by Gasunie, has risen by 50% since mid-June as a result of ongoing attacks by Iran and the US on facilities in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.