Natural gas consumption in 2022 at lowest level in 50 years

Large industrial companies that normally have high natural gas consumption levels consumed over a quarter less in 2022 than in the previous year. This decline was strongest among companies in the petroleum and chemical industries. Power plants consumed 12 percent less natural gas.

Natural gas consumption by households declined as well in 2022, by a quarter year on year. A part of this decline can be attributed to warmer weather (10 percent). When high temperatures are taken into account, consumption was 15 percent lower than in 2021. This was largely due to sharply higher natural gas prices.

The decline in natural gas consumption is partially on account of greenhouse horticulture companies producing their own electricity with a gas engine. These holdings consumed over 30 percent less natural gas in their gas engines.

Gas storage facilities are well-filled

At the end of 2022, the Netherlands’ gas reserves were 122 percent larger than at the end of 2021. This means that three quarters of the storage facilities were filled. This is mainly because less natural gas was consumed and more gas was imported (+4.4 billion m³). However, natural gas extraction was down last year (-3.4 billion m³) compared to 2021.

In 2022, imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) doubled (+9.1 billion m³) relative to 2021. A major cause is the commissioning of the LNG terminal off the coast of Eemshaven. One third of total gas imports were liquefied natural gas.

The import of gaseous natural gas was 4.6 billion m³ lower in 2022 than in 2021. Imports from Norway and Germany were down in particular. Gaseous gas exports were lower as well (-1.3 billion m³).