Today, roughly a fifth of German gas requirements are covered by gas from indigenous sources. However, the increasing depletion of the gas and oil fields in Germany is presenting a special challenge. It is becoming more and more difficult and complicated to find new gas and oil fields.

Most of the gas is produced in the north German plains between the Elbe and Ems. The natural gas produced in eastern German comes almost exclusively from the Altmark region near Salzwedel. Production in the new German states, which has been steadily declining for years, will also continue to decrease. As a result of this development, German will remain heavily dependent on gas imports in the years to come.

German gas production offers a reliable supply base as a supplement to a flexible and security-conscious gas import policy. It will continue to make a major contribution to German gas supplies.