Norway is prepared for winter gas deliveries, but we must save energy too

Norway is ready to keep its gas deliveries to Europe at a high level even during the peak winter period, announced Gassco, the operator of Norway's gas network, on October 1. According to the company, the planned maintenance work has been completed and the transport system is operating properly, so it is well prepared for the demand that rises along with the colder months. The reassuring announcement comes at a particularly timely moment, as Europe is heading into winter with lower reserves and higher gas prices than in the same period in previous years.

According to Alfred Skår Hansen, Gassco's head of system operations, the summer works served to strengthen security of supply: this year's maintenance involved fewer and shorter production shutdowns than in previous years and was completed as planned. In the new gas year starting in October, the focus shifts to ensuring winter supply, when the system faces its heaviest load. Norway became Europe's largest natural gas supplier after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine; last year 114.9 billion cubic meters of natural gas reached European markets through Gassco's network, while this year's deliveries have so far amounted to 86.2 billion cubic meters, 2.1 billion more than the amount recorded a year earlier.

Alongside supply, the protection of infrastructure is also receiving growing attention: citing the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, the war in Ukraine and geopolitical tensions, Gassco maintains heightened security measures, is upgrading the physical and IT protection of its facilities, and regularly practices handling emergency situations. However, Norway's preparedness alone does not guarantee a cheap winter: according to Reuters, European gas prices have more than doubled in 2026, rising to around 73 euros per megawatt-hour after the US–Israeli war against Iran severely restricted shipments of liquefied natural gas. EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen therefore warned last week of a winter energy price crisis and urged further filling of storage facilities as well as a reduction in consumption.

Ugar