Governments and consumers will end up paying for large amounts of expensive European gas stored over winter as wholesale prices plunge

Stockpiles might even end the winter above 50%, double the level last year, according to several analysts. Pic: REUTERS/Gleb Garanich/File Photo

Governments and consumers will end up paying for large amounts of expensive European gas stored over winter as wholesale prices plunge.

Prices have dropped by more than 80% from their August peak, meaning sales from inventories could come at a loss of billions of euros to energy users and taxpayers, as some of the fuel was bought with state money and partly financed from network charges paid by gas consumers.