The EU has urged member states to lower natural-gas storage targets and start refilling reserves gradually to curb demand, as energy prices spike during the US-Israeli war on Iran, the Financial Times reported.

Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen instructed member states to lower the filling target for their gas storage facilities to 80 per cent of capacity, 10 percentage points below the EUs official targets, as early as possible in the filling season to provide certainty and reassurance to market participants, the newspaper said, citing a letter.