Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 22 / Trend A. Badalova /
The dependence of European countries on gas imports is increasing every year, while domestic production has noticeably reduced, said a report posted on the official website of the European Commission.
According to the report, while the share of coal and oil in the total energy balance of Europe will fall, demand for gas in the region will remain stable.
Depending on different scenarios, the amount of additional gas imported by Europe ranges from 44 to 148 million tons of oil equivalent in 2020 and from 61 to 221 million tons of oil equivalent in 2030 (compared to 2005).
At present, the main foreign suppliers of gas to the EU countries are Russia, Norway and Algeria and according to the European Gas Union, Eurogas, last year the countries provided 23 percent, 20 percent and 10 percent gas respectively.
Eurogas also said that the domestic gas production in 27 EU countries declined by 9 percent, up to 182 billion cubic meters in 2009, with their demand for gas expected to increase up to 637 billion cubic meters by 2030. .
European countries expect new sources of supply with the planned alternative pipelines. One of the projects that will provide the European countries with new sources and routes of energy supplies is the Nabucco pipeline project, designed to transport gas from the Caspian region and the Middle East to the EU. The first deliveries of "blue fuel" via the pipeline are expected to be made in 2015.