OREANDA-NEWS. Aggregate Czech storage withdrawals almost doubled on 30 October-5 November as colder weather boosted demand.

The stockdraw rose to 125 GWh/d from 66 GWh/d on 23-29 October. Average temperatures in Prague fell to 6.4°C from 7.8°C and were well below the seasonal norm.

Inventories stood at 27.15TWh — 87.5pc of capacity — on 6 November compared with 30.95TWh a year earlier. Withdrawals were strong for much of last month compared with a year earlier because of cold weather. The average temperatures in Prague dropped to 7.5°C in October from 10.7°C a year earlier, while last month's stockdraw of 30.7 GWh/d was a reversal from net injections of 6.7GWh/d in October 2014.

Withdrawals only reached a comparable pace to the past week's 125 GWh/d in the second half of November 2014.

But milder weather was forecast for the coming days, which could curb heating demand. Average temperatures in Prague are forecast at 11.3°C on 6-12 November, up from 7.9°C a year earlier.

The Czech Republic would not be able to match last winter's strong stockdraw of 28.37TWh on 6 November 2014-31 March 2015 through the rest of the heating season, in part because of the quick withdrawals last month. But withdrawals were high last winter because Russian state-controlled Gazprom delivered less than nominated to some of its European customers.

Stocks of 27.15TWh would be enough to meet withdrawals in line with recent heating seasons preceding the 2014-15 winter.

Czech stocks would be enough to sustain withdrawals of 185 GWh/d on 6 November-31 March, above the three-year average for the period of 163.46 GWh/d.

RWE-operated storage facilities were 88.7pc full this morning with 25.2TWh in stock. MND-operated facilities held 1.95TWh at the start of the 6 November gas day and were 78.6pc full.