Available EFS natural gas storage capacities from 1 April 2010

In compliance with Ministerial Decree 31/2009 (VI.25.) KHEM on Fixing Natural Gas System Usage Fees, EFS does not offer injection capacities separately. The injection capacity that applicants for capacities may use is determined on the basis of the mobile capacity booked. If the capacity is successfully booked, the applicant will be entitled to a maximum daily injection capacity equal to one hundred and thirty-firsts (1 divided by 131) of the requested mobile capacity, reflecting the technological ratio of the relevant storage capacities.

Storage fees are calculated in accordance with Ministerial Decree 31/2009 (VI.25.) KHEM on Fixing Natural Gas System Usage Fees.

Please note that the offered capacities are available on the terms and conditions specified in the Grid Code and the EFS Business Code.

Please visit our website for further information on the load switch parameters of the storage facilities, the changes and usage-dependent reductions of the available injection and withdrawal capacities, and the minimum starting capacities of the storage facilities for injection and withdrawal. EFS continually updates the information on the website.

In this respect, please note two pieces of technical information which are of particular importance regarding capacity booking:

• injection and withdrawal requests can only be satisfied on any given gas day if the quantity of requests received is at least as much as the technological minimum amounts for injection or withdrawal;
• injection and withdrawal capacities vary depending on the current level of utilization of the storage facilities. The current level of utilization of the storage facilities suggests that the closing stock at the end of the 2009-2010 storage year will be larger than in the previous years, and it is envisaged that usage-dependent injection capacity reductions will occur sooner as a result. We will keep you updated on this topic.

Booking requests for the offered capacities must be submitted to EFS by no later than 1 March. The content requirements of the request are detailed in Clause 8.8.1.3 of the Grid Code and in the EFS Business Code. Both of these documents are available for download from the EFS website. Capacity booking requests will be accepted by EFS continuously. The deadline for submitting requests is 12 midnight on 1 March 2010.

Ministerial Decree 31/2009 (VI.25.) KHEM requires that as of 1 July 2010, the settlement must also be in heat quantity, and those applying for storage capacities must specify both m³ and heat quantity (MJ, MJ/h) figures. Please be advised that we will notify you in writing of the heat quantity equivalents of the offered capacities detailed above, for conversion, by 15 February 2010.

Similarly to the previous years, the EFS IT Platform will be used for the capacity booking process, including the announcement of storage capacities and of the duration of the bidding period. The capacity information and documents required for the booking will also be sent via the EFS IT Platform. Should you have any questions concerning booking capacities on the IT Platform, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to organise a training session for you.

EFS will allocate the available capacities to applicants in compliance with the relevant terms of the Government Decree and the Grid Code. Bookings for registered capacities will enjoy a priority during the capacity allocation, in accordance with the relevant legal regulations.