Gas Reserve Mechanisms and Flexibility Options

Two major gas supply crises in the last five years have fundamentally challenged long-held assumptions about gas supply security and exposed deep vulnerabilities in an increasingly interconnected but geopolitically more complex global gas market. This evolving landscape, combined with reduced supply flexibility and growing weather sensitivity, calls for stronger gas supply security frameworks built on closer international cooperation, new reserve mechanisms and greater market flexibility.

This report focuses on gas reserve mechanisms and flexibility options that can strengthen gas system resilience against short-term supply disruptions. It identifies practical measures that gas-importing countries can implement over the next five years to reinforce supply security through a combination of physical reserve assets, flexible commercial arrangements and policy-based mechanisms, complementing longer-term efforts to diversify supply sources and enhance gas infrastructure.

The report also explores how governments can advance international cooperation by strengthening coordination and dialogue, increasing transparency, enhancing market flexibility and jointly exploring new voluntary reserve mechanisms. The IEA stands ready to support these efforts.