Doris Leblond
OGJ Correspondent
PARIS, Sept. 22 -- While the total amount of energy required to meet the demand of the 25 European Union countries in 2005 remained the same as in 2004 at 1,637 million tonnes of oil equivalent (toe), a 4.5% fall in EU energy production from all sources pushed up its dependence on imports to 56% from 54%, according to Eurostat, the EU's statistical office, in its first 2005 estimates.
Crude oil production decreased by 9%, gas production by 5.8%, coal by 5.7%, and nuclear energy by 1.3%. The UK accounted for 70% of the oil produced, followed by Denmark 15%, with production falling in both countries by 11.4% and 3.8%, respectively.
The UK also was the EU's largest natural gas producer, with 44% of total production, followed by the Netherlands at 32%. In both countries production fell by 7.7% and 5.9%, respectively.
Oil accounted for about 60% of the EU's net energy imports, and gas for 25%. Net crude imports and products rose by 2.9%, while net gas imports rose by 9.2%.
Eurostat has determined that energy consumption per capita in the 25 EU member states was equivalent to 3.6 toe in 2005, compared with 7.8 toe/capita in the US and 4.1 toe/capita in Japan. But consumption varies greatly from one member state to another, reflecting economic development, the degree of industrialization, and climates.
