Netherlands Seeks to Scrap EU Gas Storage Mandate Citing $1.14B Cost Burden

The Netherlands is pushing to abolish the EU's mandatory gas storage targets, arguing the cost burden falls unfairly on governments rather than market participants. The Dutch government has spent nearly $1.14 billion this summer to fill inventories, a cost Climate Minister Stientje van Veldhoven says should be borne by gas market players. This marks a policy reversal by a member state and could trigger broader EU debate on storage cost-sharing ahead of winter.