EU member states' gas use falls 1.5% in 2007

March 18, 2008
Natural gas consumption in the 27 member states of the European Union fell 1.5% in 2007 compared with 2006 because of widespread mild weather early in the year.

Doris Leblond
OGJ Correspondent

PARIS, Mar. 18 -- Natural gas consumption in the 27 member states of the European Union fell 1.5% in 2007 compared with 2006 because of widespread mild weather early in the year.

In some countries high energy prices and increased efficiency also played a role, said Eurogas in Brussels. Natural gas consumption amounted to 505 billion cu m compared with 513 billion cu m in 2006.

By yearend 2007, the number of customers connected to the EU 27 gas grid increased 1% to 110.2 million, pulled along by the UK, Spain, and Italy, which made up for a negative trend in the other countries.

Indigenous production decreased 7% to 198 billion cu m with drops in major producing countries such as the UK, down 9.9%; Germany, down 8.3%; Denmark, down 11.4%; and Italy, down 11.5%. Eurogas said indigenous production provides the highest percentage of gas supplied in the EU 27, covering 38% of total net supplies in 2007.

The main external sources of gas are Russia with 23%, Norway with 18%, and Algeria 10%. It was increasing imports from Norway, which mainly compensated for the drop in indigenous production.