I propose to take Questions Nos. 193, 194 and 195 together.
Council regulation (EU) 2022/1369 on coordinated demand-reduction measures for gas came into force on 9 August 2022 for a duration of one year. The regulation was subsequently extended until 31 March 2024.
Information on the Eurostat website dated 19 April 2023 showed that the EU consumption of natural gas has dropped by 17.7% in the period August 2022-March 2023, compared with the average gas consumption for the same months (August-March) between 2017 and 2022.
The majority of EU countries reached the -15% target, with the exception of Ireland (-0.2%), Slovakia (-1.0%), Spain (-10.8%), Poland (-12.5%), Slovenia (-13.8%) and Belgium (-14.5%), which recorded smaller decreases, and Malta (smallest gas consumer among all EU members using gas), which actually saw a 12.7% increase between August 2022 and March 2023. Consumption fell the most in Finland (-55.7%), Lithuania (-40.5%) and Sweden (-37.2%) and in other EU countries, consumption dropped beyond the 15% target.
The article containing this information can be found at the following link:
EU gas consumption decreased by 17.7% - Products Eurostat News - Eurostat (europa.eu).
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) report monthly to the European Commission on Ireland's gas demand. The most recently reported figures by CRU to the European Commission were for May 2023. In summary -
• Power Gen is up 6% on the 5 year rolling average
• Industrial and commercial is down 13% on the 5 year rolling average
• Residential is down 40% on the 5 year rolling average
• Overall gas demand is down 4% on the 5 year rolling average.
