Accra:Natural gas consumption has seen contrasting trends across the European Union and the United States, according to a recent report by the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF). In September, the European Union experienced a 6% year-on-year decrease in natural gas consumption, totaling 17.8 billion cubic meters.
According to Azeri-Press news agency, the decline in European gas consumption occurred despite an uptick in demand within the power generation sector. This was attributed to a seasonal transition from summer to autumn, which reduced the demand for electricity for cooling while heating demand in the residential sector remained limited. Additionally, the industrial sector’s gas consumption may have also remained low, contributing to the overall decrease in demand.
Conversely, the United States saw a 3% increase in natural gas consumption during the same period, reaching 70 billion cubic meters. This rise was predominantly driven by increased demand in the power generation sector, as widespread heatwaves elevated cooling needs and electricity usage. The report highlighted that gas consumption for power generation rose by 6% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, residential gas consumption experienced a 6% increase year-on-year, while the industrial and commercial sectors reported minor declines of 0.3% and 1%, respectively.
The report also recalled that Azerbaijani gas transportation to Europe via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) commenced on December 31, 2020.