Natural gas

In the natural gas sector, CORES is responsible for ensuring compliance with the obligation to maintain minimum security stocks. Moreover, also within the scope of security of supply and as an activity that differentiates it from other similar European entities, CORES contributes to ensuring appropriate diversification of the natural gas supplies in Spain.

Maintenance of minimum security stocks

The obligation to maintain minimum security stocks of natural gas in Spain is calculated based on confirmed sales or consumption, establishing 10 days of strategic stocks, 10 days of minimum operating stocks of the system, and the days of minimum operating stocks of the user (DOU) calculated annually according to article 4, Order TED/72/2023, as of 26th January, based on the filling trajectory indicated in article 6 of that Order. Before 20^th February, CORES will notify each obligated entity the amount of its obligation to maintain minimum security stocks.

During 2026, DOU will be the following:

The obligated entities may fulfil their obligation to maintain total user operational stocks, either in full or in part, using liquefied natural gas (LNG) stored in domestic regasification plants. The quantity of LNG calculated for these purposes may also be used to meet the obligations of the Winter Action Plan (ES). Strategic stocks, the system’s minimum operational stocks and that part of the user’s minimum operational stocks not stored in the form of LNG, must be held in underground storage.

CORES does not store strategic stocks of natural gas. 

Minimum stocks of natural gas

The entities obliged to maintain minimum stocks of natural gas are natural gas shippers and direct consumers on the market (for the part of their confirmed consumption not supplied by a shipper). 

If needed, mobilization of the strategic minimum security stocks of natural gas corresponds exclusively to the Government. In the case of minimum operations stocks of the system, it corresponds to the person in charge of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.

Diversification

If over 50% of the total amount of the annual natural gas supplies used for domestic consumption (with the exception of gas acquired for facilities with alternative combustion) comes from a single country of origin, the shippers that provide over 7% of the annual supply must diversify their portfolios. CORES is responsible for overseeing this obligation.