Total Dutch natural gas consumption fell by 4 percent in 2021 compared to 2020, despite the fact that it was a lot colder on average. This is evident from figures published on Thursday by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). From June 2021, gas consumption was below that of 2020 in the same period.
Less gas was used in power stations and industry in particular, partly due to higher prices and the smaller supply on the gas market. This was offset by higher electricity imports and production from renewable sources and coal-fired power stations.
At 13.4 billion cubic meters, natural gas imports were considerably lower than in 2020, when 18.8 billion cubic meters were imported. According to Statistics Netherlands, this is related to the high gas price and scarcity.
Even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the cabinet announced that it wanted to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels at an accelerated pace. The war in the Eastern European country has further increased the call for independence from Russian gas as soon as possible.