What specific warning did Uniper's CEO issue regarding Germany's gas storage levels and the upcoming winter?

Uniper's CEO Michael Lewis warned that Germany's gas caverns are not being filled fast enough, stating, 'If we don't fill the gas storage facilities quickly, we'll have a problem next winter.' He emphasized that although storage levels have been rising since March, the pace remains 'far too slow,' citing current fill levels of 30.64% — significantly below the 38.65% recorded a year earlier — and attributing the sluggish progress to higher gas prices following the Iran war, which have reduced the economic incentive to store gas during the usual spring refill period.

What regulatory solution did Uniper's CEO propose to address the gas storage shortfall, and how did he rank alternative models?

Uniper's CEO Michael Lewis advocated for adopting France's regulatory model, in which prices are guaranteed by the regulator via 'contracts for difference,' arguing it would improve investment certainty and incentivize timely gas storage. He explicitly ranked Austria's strategic gas reserve model as 'only the second-best option for Germany,' indicating a clear preference for the French price-guarantee mechanism over national reserve-based approaches.

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Uniper CEO warns of 'problem next winter' unless gas caverns fill swiftly

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Uniper CEO warns Germany risks a gas shortage next winter as storage levels lag at 30.64%, citing high prices linked to geopolitical tensions. He advocates for regulatory incentives to accelerate storage filling.

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