OMV starts production from major Austrian gas discovery

OMV starts production of Austria’s largest natural gas discovery in 40 years. (Image: OMV)

OMV has started gas production from its Wittau field in Austria, bringing online what the company describes as the country’s largest gas discovery in roughly four decades.

The startup marks a significant milestone for OMV’s domestic gas strategy and comes as European energy companies continue seeking to strengthen regional supply security following years of geopolitical disruptions and market volatility.

OMV said the Wittau project, discovered three years ago, is expected to play a major role in expanding Austria’s domestic gas production capacity.

“Wittau represents the successful start-up of the largest gas discovery in Austria in the past 40 years,” said Alfred Stern, chairman of the OMV executive board and CEO. “The project reflects OMV’s ability to deliver reliably on strategically important developments.”

The company said the first development phase will produce about 11 terawatt-hours of natural gas, or approximately 1 billion standard cubic meters, with production beginning in the second quarter of 2026 ahead of the winter 2026-27 heating season.

According to OMV, the initial production phase could supply the equivalent heating demand of roughly 100,000 households over a 10-year period.

The company has invested approximately EUR 150 million in the project to date, including roughly EUR 70 million tied to drilling activity and another EUR 80 million for infrastructure and production equipment.

Once fully ramped up, OMV said Wittau could double the company’s gas production in Austria.

The project also highlights the continuing role of natural gas in Europe’s energy strategy even as governments and companies pursue longer-term decarbonization goals.

“At the same time, gas remains a crucial energy source — helping to secure supply today while simultaneously supporting the transition to a clean, renewable energy system,” Stern said.

Austria’s government framed the development as strategically important for national energy resilience.

“Today’s start of production in Wittau is more than the development of a new gas field,” said Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker. “It is the largest gas discovery in Austria in several decades and a project of strategic importance for our country’s security of supply.”

Stocker said the field could help improve Austria’s energy independence while strengthening resilience against future geopolitical disruptions.

The Wittau project is located in Lower Austria and forms part of OMV’s broader effort to diversify gas supply sources and increase the share of domestic production within its portfolio.

OMV estimates the field contains up to 48 terawatt-hours of recoverable resources, equivalent to roughly 4.2 billion standard cubic meters of natural gas.

The company also identified potential future regional investments totaling roughly EUR 500 million, subject to market conditions and additional project decisions.

The startup comes at a time when European gas markets continue balancing energy security concerns with emissions reduction objectives and infrastructure investment needs.

Natural gas production within Europe has gained renewed attention in recent years as governments seek to reduce dependence on imported supply while maintaining grid reliability and industrial energy availability.

For OMV, Wittau represents one of the company’s most significant upstream developments in Austria in decades and reinforces the continuing importance of domestic gas resources within Europe’s evolving energy landscape.