UK gas imports down in Q2

Driven by low demand, total gas imports in the UK have fallen 20 per cent in the second quarter of this year, compared to Q2 2013.

This has almost completely been due to a decrease in pipeline imports whilst total LNG imports have remained broadly stable on last year, according to data by the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC).

The volume of Norwegian gas into the UK has decreased substantially, down over a third versus Q2 2013.

Pipeline imports decreased by 31 per cent compared to Q2 2013, whereas LNG imports remained similar (down 0.5 per cent). Pipeline imports accounted for 57 per cent of all imports in Q2 2014, versus 65 per cent in Q2 2013, the DECC data said.

Gross UK production of natural gas in Q2 2014 was 3.8 per cent lower than in Q2 2013. Within this, production of dry gas remained almost unchanged (0.9 per cent lower), whilst associated gas production decreased by 6.1 per cent.

Overall UK gas demand decreased by 14.8 per cent in Q2 2014 compared to Q2 2013, the data showed. This was primarily driven by domestic and other consumption (down 28 and 22 per cent respectively). This reflects the warmer temperatures in Q2 2014 versus the previous year, as used for electricity generation was similar in Q2 2014 versus Q2 2013 (down 2.0 per cent) whilst industrial consumption was down by 4.6 per cent.