European Union’s Natural Gas and Liquefied Natural Gas Use Data

A 2013 report “Statistical Report 2013” from Eurogas provides excellent data on the European Union (EU)'s recent use of natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG).  Click here to read this report (PDF file).

The report shows that the 28 EU countries obtained their natural gas in 2012 from the following sources: member countries – 33%; Russia – 23%; Norway – 22%; Algeria – 9%; and other countries – 13%.  Approximately 5,061 Terawatt hours (TWh) of natural gas was consumed by the EU in 2012.  The EU used approximately 2% less natural gas in 2012 compared to 2011.

Of the natural gas consumed in 2012, approximately 631 TWh of it was imported in the form of LNG.  Therefore, approximately 13% of the natural gas consumption came into the country as LNG (631 TWh imported/5,061 TWh used).  Qatar provided the highest percentage of this 631 TWh LNG imported (45%), followed by: Nigeria – 17%; Algeria – 17%; and others such as Norway, Trinidad-Tobago, Peru, and Egypt.  LNG imports in 2012 were approximately 28% less than in 2011.

In 2012, the EU had approximately 19 LNG degasification terminals, capable of transforming LNG into gas.  The total degasification capacity for these terminals is estimated to be about 2,063 TWh of gas.  However, only about 31% of this capacity was used in 2012 (631 TWh LNG consumed/2,063 TWh capacity).

Because of the upsurge in the United States natural gas supply, due to advances in shale gas extraction, exporting the excess as LNG to Europe (and Asia) is being planned by many companies.  The data given above and in the Eurogas report could be useful in better strategizing LNG exports to Europe.

Data in the report came from natural gas associations in the EU countries and elsewhere, member companies of Eurogas, and other sources.  Eurogas is a non-profit association representing the interests of the European gas industry.