EUROPE GAS — Prices firm after 3 — day decline as market tightness persists

Contracts ease this week but remain near highest levels since 2022 Low gas storage, LNG disruptions continue to support prices Norwegian maintenance cuts supplies until end of September OSLO, Sept 18 (Reuters) — Benchmark Dutch and British wholesale gas prices firmed on Friday morning, after three days of decline, on support from disruptions to liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipping, Norwegian maintenance and low European storage levels. The benchmark Dutch front-month contract at the TTF hub rose by €1.91 to €78.27 per megawatt hour (MWh) by 0826 GMT, ICE data showed. The British front-month contract rose by 4.72 pence to 195.45 pence per therm. Both contracts hit their highest levels since December 2022 on Monday. Although they have eased since, they remain at levels not seen since January 2023. "Recent weakness appears to be a correction to the recent rally rather than being driven by fundamental changes in the near term," analysts at Mind Energy said in a morning report. However, low European storage levels ahead of the heating season remain a concern and could prove supportive to the price development again as early as today, they added. EU gas storage is 68.8% full, 12.1 percen