The Cabinet today adopted the draft of the first ordinance amending the Ordinance to Ensure the Supply of Gas in a Supply Crisis. The draft ordinance sets out a number of different rules which are to help improve the effectiveness of the Security Platform Gas. The Security Platform Gas is a new virtual information platform on which the relevant gas market stakeholders provide their data as a preparation for a gas shortage. In the event of a gas shortage, the Bundesnetzagentur – the federal supply coordinator – can use the platform to issue instructions to companies and thus ensure that the vital demand for gas is covered effectively. The Platform was created last year by the Bundesnetzagentur and went live at the end of September.

The new rules that have been adopted by the Cabinet will improve the operation of the platform and thus consequently improve security of supply.

The amendment also extends the group of stakeholders required to register on the platform to include the operators and users of gas storage facilities, providing the federal supply coordinator with comprehensive and meaningful data for taking decisions in the event of a gas shortage. The new rules will also make it easier to enforce the reporting requirements. The amendment lays down more clearly the requirements for registration and updating of data and stipulates that it is not only the reporting duties on the Security Platform Gas that apply prior to the occurrence of a gas shortage, but also the provisions on administrative fines. This will improve enforcement of the rules.
The ordinance can be found here.