BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8
By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:
In 2019 as whole, gas consumption in the EU went up by 2.1 percent (10.1 bcm) compared to 2018, Trend reports citing the updated data of the European Commission.
“The biggest increase in absolute numbers could be observed in Germany (7.1 bcm), Spain (4.1 bcm), while in the UK consumption decreased by 2.5 bcm. In the other EU countries the year-on-year change in 2019 remained below 1 bcm,” reads the report.
Reportedly, EU gas consumption in the fourth quarter of 2019 remained stable in year-on-year comparison, increasing only slightly (by 0.1 percent), after going up by 12 percent and 7 percent in the previous two quarters.
“In absolute numbers, the quarterly gas consumption in Q4 2019 amounted to an estimated 138.9 bcm, following the seasonal increase from Q3 2019 (84 bcm), but practically equalling the Q4 2018 value (138.8 bcm),” said the company.
“Gas-fired electricity generation showed slower year-on-year increase in Q4 2019 than earlier quarters of 2019 in many European countries, (increasing only by 6 percent, or 9.5 TWh in Q4 2019). On the other hand, the weather across Europe was generally warmer in October-December 2019 compared to the seasonal average, resulting in less heating-related demand for gas in the residential sector. During the whole Q4 2019 gas consumption was in the range of 2014-2018.”
In the fourth quarter of 2019 EU gas production reached approximately 26.1 bcm, 12 percent (3.7 bcm) less than in the same quarter of 2018. During the whole Q4 2019 gas output was below the 2014-2018 range, reflecting the dwindling trend of gas production in the EU.
In 2019 natural gas production in the EU amounted to 109.1 bcm, 9 percent less than in 2018, which meant in absolute numbers a decline of 10.8 bcm.
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