Natural gas balance sheet; supply and consumption
Explanation of symbols
Table description
This table shows the supply and the consumption of natural gas as a balance sheet. The supply of natural gas is calculated as the sum of indigenous production, production from other sources, imports minus exports, minus delivery of fuels for international shipping (bunkers) plus stock changes. The supply is equal to the amount of natural gas used in the Netherlands in the same period.
This consumption is broken down by how it's delivered by the gas distribution network. This consists of a main grid and connected regional grids. Large-scale consumers, like power plants and large companies, receive the gas directly from the main distribution network. Small-scale consumers, including households, receive their natural gas through the regional grids. Then a small amount of natural gas is used in the indigenous production and transportation of natural gas. Lastly, there is flared and vented natural gas.
Data available:
From 1946 annually and from 1982 annually, quarterly and monthly.
Status of the figures:
All figures up to 2018 are definite.
Figures of 2019 are revised provisional.
Figures of 2020 and upward are provisional.
Changes as of May 2021:
Figures of March 2021 have been added.
Changes as of March 2021:
- Update with data for December 2020
- Adjustment of other data for 2020
- Redesign; The new variables “Bunkers” and “Closing stock” are added to the table. The closing stocks will be aligned with AGSI every year in January. In the other months the closing stock will be determined based on the flows as metered by Gasunie (GTS). Because of this methodology, differences between the values as published by AGSI can occur. Apart from adding de variables “Closing stock” and “Bunkers” new insights have led to a shift from import to production for the year 2020.
When will new figures be published?
Provisional figures: in the second month after the month under review.
Revised provisional figures: not later than in the following December.
Definite figures: not later than in the second following December.
Description topics
- Supply of natural gas
- The amount of natural gas primarily available for consumption in the Netherlands. Supply is calculated as the sum of indigenous production, production from other sources, imports minus exports and stock changes. This calculation of the supply results in the amount of natural gas consumed in the Netherlands during the period under review.
- Total supply
- The amount of natural gas primarily available for consumption in the Netherlands.
- Indigenous production
- Extraction of natural gas from nature, on-shore and off-shore in the Dutch territorial part of the North Sea.
Figures on flaring have been subtracted.
- Production from other sources
- Natural gas from other energy commodities transformation, e.g. natural gas production from refinery gas or natural gas production from biogas. Also known as biomethane.
- Imports of gaseous natural gas
- Imports of gaseous natural gas through cross border pipelines.
- Imports of liquefied natural gas (Lng)
- Imports of liquefied natural gas (Lng).
The gas is liquefied through cooling till about minus 160 degrees Celsius. This makes transport in ships over long distances possible.
- Exports of gaseous natural gas
- Exports of gaseous natural gas through cross border pipelines.
- Exports of liquefied natural gas (Lng)
- Exports of liquefied natural gas (Lng).
The gas is liquefied through cooling till about minus 160 degrees Celsius. This makes transport in ships over long distances possible.
- Bunkers
- Delivery of fuels for international shipping and aviation, i.e. ships and aircraft departing from Dutch (air)ports and arriving in foreign (air)ports. Bunkers are considered as a form of export and are not included in energy available for consumption in the Netherlands.
- Stock change
- Stock change of natural gas in underground storages and stock changes of liquefied natural gas (Lng). Includes also small changes in the emergency supply of natural gas and in the natural gas pipelines. During extremely cold weather the emergency supply is used to keep the natural gas supply at the normal level. During hot weather the emergency supply is supplemented again. The change of stock is calculated as the opening stock minus the closing stock, in accordance with international energy statistics guidelines. A positive figure means that the stock has decreased, and the supply of natural gas has thus increased. A negative figure means the opposite: an increase in stock and decrease in consumption.
- Consumption of natural gas
- The amount of natural gas delivered to the consumers in the Netherlands.
- Total consumption
- The amount of natural gas used by companies, households and transport in the Netherlands.
- Via the main grid
- Natural gas is transported by a distribution network. This consists of a main grid and connected regional networks. Large-scale consumers (power plants and large companies) receive the gas directly from the main distribution grid. Small-scale consumers, including households, receive their natural gas through the regional grids.
- Total via the main grid
- Total delivery of natural gas by the main distribution network.
- Electricity power plants
- Delivery of natural gas to electricity power plants, directly through the main distribution network.
- Other consumers
- Direct delivery of natural gas through the main distribution grid to final consumers, except the electricity power plants.
- Via regional grids
- Delivery of natural gas through the regional gas distribution networks directly to the final consumers. These are the small-scale consumers, including households.
- Consumption by production and transport
- The consumption of natural gas by extraction companies at the gas extraction sites to support the extraction process and by distribution companies for the transport of natural gas.
- Closing stock
- The closing amount of stock.
- Flaring
- Surplus natural gas is vented or flared during extraction. For technical reasons, extraction companies must release this gas for a short time of period. Natural gas that is flared is burned; if it is vented it is released unburned.
Figures on flaring have been subtracted from indigenous production on natural gas.