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Special measures, particularly those concerning the security of supply, supplement companies' readiness in respect to production capacity and readiness prepared by the energy supply authorities. Security stockpiling of imported fuels and international agreements for securing fuel supplies are the central elements of securing the energy supply.
These international agreements are
- the International Energy Program, IEP, implemented in Finland on 13th December 1991. (Statute Book of Finland 1682/1991, Treaty Series of the Statute Book nr 114)
- EU's stockpiling obligations (Directive 68/414/EEC imposing an obligation on Member States of the EEC to maintain minimum stocks of crude oil and/or petroleum products, amended by Directive 98/93/EC).
Finland has committed itself to respecting its stockpiling obligations
The main substance of both the IEP Agreement as the EU obligation, is a country specific obligation to maintain stockpiles of oil products and/or crude oil that correspond to not less than 90 day's net imports/consumption. In Finland, these obligations are met by the compulsory stockpiling of imported fuels by companies and by the State’s security of supply stockpiles.
Obligations enter into force during emergency situations, or disturbances
Obligations under the IEP Agreement enter into force, if the twenty six Member States' established oil supply deficiency exceeds 7 %. In this situation, the Member States have committed themselves to reducing their oil consumption by a corresponding quantity, or to increasing oil supplies by releasing their stocks to the extent that they exceed 90 days' needs. If the deficiency exceeds 12 % of supply, the obligation will be to save amounts to 10 %, and the Member States to implement an oil sharing system. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is competent to decide on its implementation. By means of this system, oil exports shall be directed to Member States so that each of them receives an equal proportional share of the available oil. Oil sharing exercises are held at regular intervals and the IEA makes the security of supply inspections in Member States.
Apart from the 90 days stockpiling obligation, the EU has no similar rationing arrangements.
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