BERLIN: German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche plans to use market incentives to encourage traders to keep more gas available this winter, while avoiding direct state gas purchases, amid concerns over supply, a government source told Reuters.

A planned autumn tender for Long Term Options, or LTOs, will be increased by an as yet undetermined volume of gas, the source said. LTOs allow Trading Hub Europe, Germany’s nationwide gas market coordinator, to secure gas deliveries from traders for potential future use.

The government has also agreed with state-owned energy companies Uniper and SEFE that they will make fuller use of their storage capabilities, the source said.—Reuters