Households and businesses consumed more gas last year than in 2023, according to figures from gas network operator Fluxys. However, overall gas consumption in Belgium has fallen. How is this done?
Key information
- Households consumed 2.5 percent more gas last year than in 2023.
- Business gas consumption increased 10 percent to 44 terawatt hours.
- Nevertheless, Belgium’s total gas consumption in 2024 decreased from 152 to 149 terawatt hours.
In the news: Gas consumption by businesses and households increased between 2023 and 2024.
- Private gas consumption increased by 2.5 percent. This increase in consumption may be due to the fact that households have turned on their heating more quickly in recent months, or that they have been less attentive to their consumption.
- Business gas consumption increased 10 percent last year to 44 terawatt hours. This indicates a recovery in volumes in the manufacturing industry.
Total gas consumption in Belgium has fallen again
Please note: Belgium’s total gas consumption still fell from 152 to 149 terawatt hours in 2024.
-
The Time notes that this drop is only due to electricity producers who consumed 28 percent less gas.
- Recent electricity consumption figures have already shown that gas-fired power plants operated very little last year. The reason is that it was often cheaper to obtain energy from abroad than to operate its own gas plants.
- Moreover, Belgium does not produce gas itself. Our country must import everything via pipelines or special terminals where liquefied natural gas (LNG) can be unloaded. Most of it is transferred to other countries. Fluxys figures show that this transit fell by 27 percent last year, to 259 terawatt hours.
- The decline in transit to Germany and the Netherlands is explained by the fact that these countries have commissioned more of their own LNG import terminals.
- Norway also remains the main gas supplier. Pipeline supplies from the North Sea increased by 5 percent to 173 terawatt hours.
- Finally, Fluxys reports that far fewer ships unloaded LNG in the port of Zeebrugge last year. Volumes fell by almost a third.
European gas consumption increases
Looking back, December had already shown that gas consumption in Europe had increased.
-- Storage capacity in the region was 87 percent, down sharply from 97 percent and 94 percent recorded during the same period in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
- As cold weather prompts more households to turn on the heating, wind speeds in the North Sea have been below average, reducing electricity production from offshore wind farms.
Also see: Gas prices have increased.
The end of year celebrations are here! We therefore want to spoil our loyal readers. We are temporarily offering free access to (new) paying contributors to our site. You will be able to immediately discover our premium offer. Do you want to continue to benefit from our premium offer after the end of the year? Subscribe to a subscription now and benefit from a temporary discount.
Related News :