GIE appoints Camille Bonenfant-Jeanneney as new President for European gas storages

Since April 2021, Camille Bonenfant-Jeanneney has been Chief Executive Officer of Storengy, one of Europe’s major Storage System Operators (SSOs) with subsidiaries in France, Germany and the United Kingdom. By starting her career as a diplomat at the Permanent Representation of France to the European Union on industrial and environmental issues (2006-2012), she benefits from an outstanding expertise in EU affairs. These industrial and political track records, associated with her leadership on disruptive business models, will fully contribute to the objectives of Gas Storage Europe (GSE), the storage column of GIE.

Commenting on her recent appointment, Camille Bonenfant-Jeanneney stated: “I am deeply honoured to be entrusted the Presidency of GSE. A sustainable storage industry is key to strengthening Europe’s security of supply and unlocking the integration of renewables into the energy mix. I look forward to closely cooperating with our members to ensure that SSOs will be on the right track to achieve the filling targets of 80% by 1^st November 2022 and 90% in the coming years.”

Indeed, the revision of the gas Security of Supply Regulation and Natural Gas Regulation, put forward by the European Commission on 23^rd March 2022, has introduced exceptional measures to best equip Europe in case of potential supply disruptions. This includes, among others, storage obligations, a burden sharing mechanism and a mandatory certification for all SSOs. This summer, in the context of the Hydrogen Package, co-legislators will even go one step further and assess the contribution of underground hydrogen storage to a carbon-neutral economy.

Torben Brabo, GIE President, added: “I would like to thank Dr Axel Wietfeld for his brilliant contribution to GIE’s decarbonisation strategy over the last six years, and extend my congratulations to Doug Waters, Uniper Energy Storage’s Managing Director, as new GIE Board member. Crucial times are ahead of us: his experience in the power sector and digitalisation will be essential assets in fulfilling our strategic orientation towards a more integrated energy system.”