North West Europe Gas System Performance – August 2018
Aurora’s gas system performance report provides a monthly snapshot of key operating characteristics for the European gas market. The key statistics include prices, volumes, trade, suppliers market share, indigenous production flexibility and storage provision for security of supply.
Highlights of our August 2018 report include:
- Gas prices: Gas prices were 50% higher year-on-year, as rising European carbon spot prices caused by priced-in policy reforms, led to higher demand for gas in European power markets.
- Consumption: NW Europe consumption increased by 3% year-on-year, driven by increased gas-for-power consumption in Germany, GB and the Netherlands.
- Supply: A combined decline of 6%-points in indigenous production and LNG in the supply mix was compensated by a 7%-point increase in Russia’s share in the supply mix, with Norway’s share declining by 1%-point.
- Indigenous production: Dutch production was down 7% month-on-month and 20% year-on-year as the gas-year Groningen production cap of 21.6 bcm approached.
- Pipeline imports: Total pipeline flows were 16% higher year-on-year, driven by increased Russian flows through the Nord Stream, Czech and Yamal routes, as Nord Stream returned to full service after annual maintenance in July.
- LNG: LNG imports to Belgium jumped by 65% month-on-month, as pipeline imports from both the UK and the Netherlands declined.
- Storage: Storage injections declined by 20% month-on-month, causing inventory levels to again fall below the trailing 5 year minimum.
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