Gas consumption in France down 20% from 2021 levels

Gas consumption in France in 2023 has fallen by more than 10% in one year and by around 20% compared to 2021, according to the latest figures from France’s main transmission operator, GRTgaz, published Tuesday (February 27).

In 2023, French gas consumption will amount to 381 TWh, 11.4% less than in 2022 (430 TWh) and 20% less than in 2021 (474 TWh), altogether far from the peak consumption of 547 TWh in 2010.

Russian gas, which still accounted for 17% of the gas consumed in France in February 2022, has fallen below the 9% mark, according to public distributor GRDF.

However, Kpler, a specialist consultancy that monitors liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers, noted that Russian LNG imports are still significant: 15% of the total at the end of December 2023.

Nevertheless, overall consumption has fallen.

One of the main contributors to this decline has been industry, where consumption has fallen by 18.2% as a result of changes in industrial activity, energy efficiency efforts, and energy substitution, noted GRTGaz. Some processes have had to be shut down because prices have been too high in recent years, it said.

“Over the period 2024-2025, we expect gas consumption in France to remain stable […] We don’t expect gas consumption to fall any further in the coming years.” said Sandrine Meunier, chief executive officer of GRTgaz.

Already, gas-fired electricity generation is returning to normal after increasing in 2022 due to the reduced availability of nuclear power stations.

EU situation

“In 2023, the European gas system will consolidate and adapt to the drop in flows from Russia,” Meunier said.

Between 2022 and 2023, LNG supplies will have risen from 35% to 41% of total gas supplies in Europe, marking a clear decline in supplies from Russian pipelines. They now account for just 8% of supplies, compared with 18% in 2022 and 41% before the war in Ukraine.

Overall, gas supplies fell by 14% year-on-year, thanks in particular to lower consumption, but also to well-stocked storage facilities.

Altogether, LNG and pipeline, Russian gas still accounts for around 15% of EU supplies.

As part of this trend, France is taking advantage of the reversal of flows traditionally from East to West to confirm its position as the European leader in LNG supply, with 22% of flows (19% for Spain). This is despite a drop between 2022 and 2023.

As a result, 112 TWh were transported from France to its neighbours, particularly the closest ones: Belgium, Germany and Italy. These last two have recorded the sharpest falls in gas consumption in Europe.

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[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]

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