Norway readies winter gas exports to Europe as Gassco completes pipeline maintenance

Infrastructure readiness after maintenance

The Norwegian state-owned pipeline operator Gassco announced on 1 October 2026 that Norway's natural gas transportation network is prepared for high export volumes to Europe throughout the winter season. The date coincides with the official start of the new gas year, which opens the peak delivery period across the continent as colder weather approaches. Offshore maintenance procedures that temporarily curbed exports during September have concluded according to the operator's annual overhaul schedule. Alfred Skaar Hansen, director of system operations at Gassco, confirmed the system's operational readiness in a statement released on Thursday.

As we enter the winter season with maintenance completed and a well-functioning transportation system, the Norwegian continental shelf is well equipped to meet demand from Europe.

The state operator manages an 8,800-kilometre pipeline network and processing facilities that connect Norwegian continental shelf extraction directly to receiving terminals in Germany, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, and Denmark. The network provides the main pipeline route for Norwegian natural gas into northwestern Europe.

Export volumes and pipeline delivery data

Norway has served as Europe's largest natural gas supplier since 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Extraction sites operated by Equinor and partner energy companies across the Norwegian continental shelf currently cover approximately 30% of combined natural gas demand across the European Union and the United Kingdom.

In 2025, Gassco transported 114.9 billion cubic metres of gas through its offshore pipeline system to European buyers. From the beginning of 2026 through 1 October, cumulative deliveries reached 86.2 billion cubic metres. This export volume represents an increase of 2.1 billion cubic metres compared to the identical period in 2025, reflecting steady flow rates after the conclusion of September maintenance work.

Price pressures and storage deficits in Europe

European natural gas prices have more than doubled during 2026, climbing to approximately 73 euros per megawatt-hour. This price surge followed military conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which sharply curtailed liquefied natural gas shipments through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

The disruption in Middle Eastern maritime fuel deliveries coincided with lower gas stockpiling across the continent. Entering October 2026, European underground storage facilities hold inventories that remain well below their long-term multi-year average. European utilities face elevated replenishment costs as household and industrial heating demand rises with falling autumn temperatures.

European policy responses and storage directives

European Union officials have urged member states to curb natural gas consumption and accelerate storage filling before freezing temperatures arrive. European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen issued a formal warning regarding winter energy price risks during the final week of September 2026, urging member states to protect vulnerable households and industries.

In a normal winter, nearly 50 million people in Europe cannot heat their homes properly. Next winter could be even harder. Therefore, we take the situation very seriously, not to mention our industry, which is also under pressure.

National governments have responded by mandating reserve targets. In Germany, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche instructed the state-owned energy enterprise Sefe on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, to purchase and inject additional natural gas volumes into domestic storage facilities.