Bulgaria's Chiren Gas Storage 83% Full as Heating Season Begins

Bulgaria's Chiren gas storage facility was 83.46% full at the start of the heating season, according to data from Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) available on Wednesday. That is significantly higher than the 76.97% recorded on the same date in 2025.

Across Europe, gas storage facilities were 74.93% full on average, down from 82.83% a year earlier. The figures highlight a mixed picture: some countries have built up strong reserves, while others are starting the colder months with lower stocks than usual.

Romania reported on Tuesday that its gas storage facilities were almost 90% full. Poland had the highest fill level in Europe at 99.23%, followed by Portugal at 95.51% and Italy at 90.77%.

At the other end of the scale, Latvia had the lowest proportion of storage capacity filled at 49.77%, with Slovakia at 54.47% and Germany at 61.65%. Bulgaria's 83.46% puts it comfortably above the European average and well ahead of its own level from the same time last year, offering a buffer as heating demand rises.