The Dutch are using less gas and imports are rising

Photo: djmattaar via Depositphotos
Photo: djmattaar via Depositphotos

Dutch households and industry used 17% less gas in the period July to October, while imports, particularly of liquid natural gas, were up, national statistics agency CBS said on Thursday.

EU countries agreed in August to try to cut gas usage by 15% when compared with the average over the past five years. The measure is one of several to reduce reliance on Russian gas following the invasion of Ukraine.

Compared with the past five years, Dutch gas usage is down 30%, the CBS said. The decline was largely driven by industry, which cut its gas consumption by 26%, due in part to high prices. However, warmer weather in the early autumn may also have played a role.

Gas imports were up 15% over the period, with the volume of LNG almost doubling. Just over half LNG imports came from the US and 16% from Russia. The Netherlands has recently established a new LNG terminal off the coast of Eenshaven in Groningen province.

Dutch gas stocks are now in line with European standards which state 80% of capacity should be filled, the CBS said.

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