BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.16. Four tenths of gas import arrived EU via LNG terminals in the third quarter of 2022 for the first time since 2014, Trend reports with reference to the European Commission.
According to Eurostat, net gas imports in the EU increased by 2 percent (1.4 bcm) in the third quarter of 2022 (year-on-year), amid decreasing gas consumption and further dwindling domestic production, which also facilitated the replenishment of storages. Net imports in different EU countries showed a high variation in Q3 2022 in year-on-year comparison. In Denmark, in parallel with decreasing gas consumption, net imports fell to practically zero and in Latvia they fell by 52 percent (-0.4 bcm). In contrast, net gas import in Malta practically doubled (though increasing by a tiny 0.07 bcm), and in Hungary net imports rose by 58 percent (+1.1 bcm) year-on-year.
According to ENTSO-G data, net imports amounted to 837 TWh in the third quarter of 2022, of which 61 percent arrived through pipelines and around 39 percent through LNG terminals.
“For a first time since the beginning of ENTSO-G time series (January 2014) almost four tenths of gas import arrived in the EU via LNG terminals. Pipeline gas imports from Russia saw a steep fall of 74 percent year-on-year in Q3 2022, showing an accelerating decline compared to the previous two quarters. Imports from Norway were also down, by 9 percent in Q3 2022, probably relating to maintenance works and industrial actions during the quarter. Pipeline gas imports from Algeria showed a slight increase of 4 percent year-on-year. At the same time, pipeline gas imports from Libya fell further, by 28 percent. At the same time, LNG imports reached 325 TWh in Q3 2022, close to the record set in the previous quarter. The same can be said on gas inflows from the UK, showing a three-fold rise year-on-year and reaching 84 TWh,” reads the report.
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