EU warns of 100 billion-plus energy cost surge as Middle East war disrupts supplies

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EU warns of 100 billion-plus energy cost surge as Middle East war disrupts supplies
Europe fuel shortages to hit airports as Middle East conflicts cut supply routes
ContinuationGlobal energy crisis sends jet fuel to record 194 per barrel, squeezing European industries and households
Europe faces a €100 billion-plus surge in energy costs this year due to the Middle East war, with no additional gas or oil supplies secured, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said on Tuesday.
Speaking ahead of an informal meeting of EU energy ministers in Dublin, Jørgensen stated the bloc had paid over €100 billion ($113 billion) extra for energy in 2026 without receiving “one extra molecule of gas or oil.” He warned that high prices would persist, straining households and industries already grappling with elevated fuel costs. In Portugal, diesel and petrol prices rose by 62 and 43 cents per liter, respectively, since the war began, according to the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology.
The conflict has disrupted oil markets, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—once handling 20% of global oil trade—pushing fuel prices to nearly 50% above pre-war levels in some countries. Jørgensen noted that 50 million Europeans already struggle to heat their homes in normal winters, and the current crisis risks deepening energy poverty. The commissioner emphasized the need to accelerate the EU’s shift from fossil fuels, citing ongoing negotiations on grid upgrades to stabilize supplies.
Gas storage levels across the EU stand at about 70%, the lowest in 13 years, following a cold winter and summer heatwaves that increased demand for power generation. European benchmark gas prices, though down from mid-September peaks, remain far above 2025 levels, with Dutch TTF front-month gas trading at €72-73 per megawatt hour this week, compared to €32 a year ago.
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