Jørgensen on winter energy Prices, storage and reserves

Sep 25

Stefan Grobe introduces Maria Tadeo's exclusive Brussels interview with EU Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen. Jørgensen warns that already high energy prices will probably worsen in winter because he sees no immediate solution to the Hormuz crisis and expects relief to lag even after reopening. He expects pressure on oil, gas, diesel and jet fuel. He recommends national electricity-tax reductions and describes EU-enabled subsidies and social leasing of electric vehicles, distinguishing immediate national action from structural grid and electrification plans. Tadeo asks about his letter on storage and reducing gas and oil demand, ministers' response and possible compulsory cuts. Jørgensen says national choices vary, demand reduction is important and no single solution exists; he describes faster electrification, renewables and efficiency without announcing compulsory cuts. He says gas filling has been coordinated throughout the year to contain bills, defends looser filling requirements and explicitly says the targets will not be scrapped. Asked about winter shortages, he says no security-of-supply crisis is currently expected, while warning that unaffordable fuel can leave households and businesses unable to meet their needs. The presenter and Tadeo describe U.S. pressure for emergency stocks to be released. Jørgensen says discussions involve all IEA members, a further release is likely, individual countries decide whether to participate and EU positions are coordinated through the IEA. He does not announce an agreed release, volume, start date or completed delivery, and does not explicitly adopt Tadeo's characterization of U.S. pressure.

EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen warns of an energy-price crisis linked to the U.S. war on Iran and asks member states to consider curbing gas and electricity demand while maintaining storage injections. Oman TV relays his view that the bloc is better prepared than in winter 2021, when Russia reduced supplies, but that governments must intensify winter preparations. This is a request to consider measures, not an adopted EU-wide rationing order. CCTV's September 26 brief explicitly dates Jørgensen's letter to September 25 and attributes the report to European media. It emphasizes the Iran war's pressure on global oil and gas markets and his request that member states consider lowering gas and electricity demand before winter. It does not report adoption of compulsory cuts. The later Brussels Euronews interview provides direct discussion of the letter and its response. Tadeo describes storage and gas/oil-demand requests; Jørgensen says countries' measures vary, demand reduction is important and electrification, renewables and efficiency offer several options. Asked about compulsory cuts, he does not announce an obligation. He defends flexible storage targets rather than scrapping them. These are later assessments of the appeal, not a new letter or proof of adopted rationing; retain Tadeo's gas/oil wording alongside the earlier broadcasters' gas/electricity description.