Berlin, October 14 (QNA) - The German government plans to establish a new strategic natural gas reserve with a capacity of 24 billion kilowatt-hours to ensure continued energy supplies during major emergencies, including sabotage and disruptions to critical infrastructure. The project would be funded through an additional levy on gas consumers.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy has pitched the proposal as part of an effort to strengthen energy security. The pitch intends to initiate the legislative process. According to the draft, the proposed reserve would account for about 10% of Germany's total gas storage capacity and would be sufficient to compensate for a 30-day shutdown of the country's largest gas import facility.

The project's total cost could reach EUR 3.08 billion over the first 10 years, according to the draft, with the first proposed levy period set to begin on Oct. 1, 2027.

The pitch stipulates that the reserve would be used exclusively to address extraordinary crises and wouldn't be available under normal circumstances. It could be tapped only after a gas supply emergency is declared and with authorization from the Federal Network Agency, which is in charge of managing gas distribution during crises.

The ministry plans to begin establishing the reserve in 2027, following approval of the necessary legislative changes.

The proposal is an outgrowth of efforts to reduce reliance on existing legal requirements governing gas storage levels and replace them with a reserve mechanism dedicated to emergencies. (QNA)