The price of fossil gas in Europe has risen by 9 percent this week. Concerns about the development in the Middle East, production that has been knocked out, and a long-term forecast from Maxar Technologies pointing to a cold and windy winter are pushing up the price.
On the futures market, the gas price on the commodity exchange in Amsterdam rose by 1.9 percent on Friday, to 42.94 euros per megawatt-hour.
The price increase coincides with the start of the heating season in Europe and gas reserves are 95 percent full, which is described as a good buffer.
The higher gas prices – which coincide with higher crude oil prices – have pushed up electricity prices around Europe and in Germany and France, they have not been as high since the beginning of January.