Brussels, 10/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - Less than a week after the Gas Coordination Group meeting (EUROPE 9281), Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, who is attempting to ensure the continuity of gas supply this year, made a visit on Tuesday to two of the biggest gas storage facilities at Rehden and Doetlingen in Germany. Located 60km south of Bremen, Rehden is the largest natural storage facility in Western Europe. It has a capacity of 4 billion cubic metres (bcm) in a depth between 1.900 and 2.100 meters. The natural gas storage of Doetlingen is located south of Oldenburg. It is capable of accommodating more that 2 billion cubic metres of gas. The natural gas is stored at a depth of 2.650 meters. Filled up this summer, the gas storage supplies play a key role in covering high demand during the winter when consumption is highest and allows for temporary gas efficiencies to be overcome. In a press statement the Commissioner said, “Gas storage facilities play a capital role in maintaining the flow of gas in the transmission and distribution systems. It is essential for the internal security of supply that this infrastructures are appropriately fed, operated and maintained”. (eh)