(FILES) German Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche visits the PCK Schwedt oil refinery in Schwedt, northeastern Germany, on May 11, 2026. The German government on September 30, 2026 ordered a state-owned company to boost gas reserves as worries mount about low storage levels ahead of winter, citing "geopolitical risks" amid the Iran war. European gas prices surged to a three-year high earlier in September 2026, with the Middle East conflict and near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupting global energy markets. The continent, which relies heavily on energy imports, has greatly diversified its supplies since Russian gas deliveries collapsed following Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Patrick Pleul / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)