Norway the company will reduce its natural gas export capacity by approximately 20% during the final phase of scheduled maintenance before the European winter. The work will continue until the end of September and will prepare the fields and processing facilities for the peak demand period.
The Nordic country covers more than 30% of the continent’s gas demand, which is why the availability of its production is of particular importance while several European countries face low storage levels and disruptions in supplies from the Middle East persist.
Norway reduces its gas export capacity
According to Gassco’s transparency data, the aggregate reduction in capacity at oil fields and processing plants will reach approximately 71 million cubic meters per day (MMm³/d) this amount represents approximately one-fifth of the usual deliveries, which are around 340 MMm³/d. Furthermore, this year’s maintenance program has been less intensive and has so far proceeded largely as planned.
Alfred Skaar Hansen Gassco’s head of systems operations explained during an energy conference in Stavanger that the progress of the work offers a favorable outlook for the rest of the year. Gassco manages the pipelines and terminals used to transport Norwegian gas to its destination markets. In 2025, the company supplied 114.9 billion cubic meters of gas through a network of gas pipelines of approximately 8,800 kilometers.
Ormen Lange will keep its production limited
On the other hand, the deposit The Long Worm if the disruption continues to be prolonged, the expected reduction will be 7.9 MMm³/d until February 1 below the initial estimate of 8.9 MMm³/d made by Shell, the field’s operator. This limitation comes as Europe seeks to increase its reserves before the peak consumption season. The availability of the Norwegian natural gas it is especially important in that process due to the volume that the country contributes to the continental market.
However, the pipeline system managed by Gassco has some reserve capacity, this offers flexibility to customers who reserve transport flows, although the main current limitation is related to the amount of gas available for production.
At this point, it’s a question of production capacity.
Hansen
Europe seeks to increase its gas reserves
Storage levels are also a focus of attention for European operators ahead of winter. Hansen noted that there is a willingness to transport as much gas as possible given the continent’s storage situation. The cumulative figures reflect Norway’s significant contribution to regional supply. Gassco’s deliveries during 2026 reach 76.1 billion cubic meters, around 1.3 billion cubic meters more than in the same period of the previous year.
The storage situation is a priority in Europe, so there is a willingness to transport as much gas as possible.
Hansen
Therefore, the planned reduction until the end of September is due to scheduled work carried out before the seasonal increase in demand. Once this work is completed, the available capacity at the fields and processing plants will be crucial for maintaining high gas flows to Europe during the colder months.
Gassco anticipates more maintenance by 2027
Finally, next year’s schedule is shaping up to be more intense than the one executed during 2026, Gassco hopes to complete its Maintenance plan for 2027 between November and December the planning will allow for the establishment of future interventions in the fields, processing plants and other facilities linked to the Norwegian gas system.
Meanwhile, the priority will be to complete current projects and restore capacity before winter, with Norway supplying more than 30% of continental demand, its production performance will continue to have a significant influence on the gas supply to Europe during peak consumption season. The reference HTML specifically maintains the pre-winter maintenance and the temporary reduction of around 20% as the central themes of the news.
Source: Pipeline & Gas Journal
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