Between August 2022 and January 2023, the European Union saw a notable drop in gas consumption, falling by 19.3% compared with the five-year average for the same period. This trend was reported by Eurostat through its press service, reflecting a broader shift in energy use across member states during that timeframe. The decline illustrates how the EU’s gas demand responded to evolving prices, supply dynamics, and regulatory measures aimed at managing energy security and reducing imports from outside the region. As the data collects across diverse economies, it underscores a collective move toward greater efficiency and careful balancing of energy needs with available resources.
Several EU nations experienced more dramatic reductions, with some reporting declines exceeding half of their five-year norms. Finland recorded a drop of 57.3%, Lithuania saw a 47.9% reduction, and Sweden faced a 40.2% decrease in gas consumption relative to the five-year average. These figures highlight how weather patterns, industrial activity, and labor-intensive sectors influence energy use, particularly in northern and Baltic economies where heating demand and industrial gas consumption play substantial roles. The disparities among member states also reflect how energy infrastructure and market responses varied across the union during the period in question.
In contrast, certain countries posted smaller contractions or even modest increases in gas use compared with the five-year baseline. Ireland reported a minimal decline, staying under 1% for the period. In Spain the decrease stood at 13.7%, while Slovenia registered a fall of 14.2%. Malta and Slovakia moved in the opposite direction, with decreases of 12% and 5% respectively, indicating that these markets did not align fully with the broad regional trend. These variations demonstrate the heterogeneous nature of energy demand across the EU, shaped by factors such as climate, industrial mix, and domestic energy strategies that influence how each country navigates seasonal requirements and supply risks.
In the second half of the year, EU representatives endorsed a contingency plan aimed at reducing gas consumption by 15% as a precautionary measure to bolster energy security during periods of tight supplies. The plan emphasizes coordinated action, transparent reporting, and sensible reductions in non-essential uses to ensure critical sectors maintain operation while minimizing stress on the gas network. This approach aligns with broader European objectives to diversify sources, optimize storage, and retain resilience against possible disruptions in energy import flows.
During the same period, authorities and industry groups noted a significant development in storage operations. Gas Infrastructure Europe, the trade body representing gas operators across the continent, reported that withdrawals from European underground storage facilities reached the lowest levels seen since 2012. This observation points to a combination of higher stored volumes entering a new cycle, improved efficiency in gas usage, and careful management of seasonal demand. The trend has implications for market pricing, reliability of supply, and the planning framework that governs storage utilization and interconnections among member states, as nations work to balance immediate needs with longer-term energy strategies.