GAS CONSUMPTION UP BY 1.9% IN THE EU IN 2005.

• Position: Brief Article

Natural gas consumption in the EU amounted to 492.5 billion m3 (Gm3) in 2005, an increase of 1.9% on 2004 figures. The main factor explaining the growing use of natural gas is the strong increase in power plant demand registered in some countries, explained Eurogas, the European union of the natural gas industry. The rate of change in natural gas consumption has varied between countries and regions with southern countries registering well above-average increases in their demand - Spain (17.7%), Portugal (12.6%), Italy (6.9%) and Greece (6%). In Nordic countries (Finland, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands), the generally milder weather conditions have led to a drop in demand. But the Baltic countries saw an average increase in consumption of...