The largest consumption of Russian gas fell in Finland, Lithuania and Sweden.

In the period from August 2022 to January 2023, the consumption of natural gas in the EU decreased by 19.3% compared to the same period from 2017.

According to the Eurostat statistical analysis, from August 2022 to January 2023, the smallest decrease in natural gas consumption during the reporting period among EU countries was registered in Ireland — by 0.3%, in Spain — by 13.7%, and in Slovenia — by 14 2%. Only in these three countries did not reach the indicator of 15%.

The largest consumption of Russian gas fell in Finland – by 57.3%, in Lithuania – by 47.9% and in Sweden – by 40.2%.

“EU Council Regulation 2022/1369 on coordinated measures to reduce gas demand, which is part of the REPowerEU plan to end the EU’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels, has set a 15% reduction target for the period from August 2022 to March 2023, an indicator for that the same period of five previous years in a row,” the statistical analysis said.

The invasion of Ukraine and the gas situation

On September 28, 2022, EU countries demanded an immediate cap on gas prices.

On October 1, Gazprom cut gas supplies to Moldova by 30%. On November 1, 2022, Gazprom stopped supplying gas to Italy.

In December 2022, the energy ministers of the countries of the European Union agreed to establish a ceiling price for gas. It amounted to €180 per megawatt-hour (MW/h).

The Kremlin called the sanctions “an attempt to encroach on the market mechanism” and promised retaliatory measures. However, a week after agreeing on the establishment of a maximum price for gas in the Russian Federation, there was talk of resuming supplies to the EU through the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline.

As of December 1, 2022, Gazprom has cut gas exports to EU countries by almost half.

On December 20, 2022, a pipeline with export gas to Western Europe through Ukraine exploded in Russia.

On December 23, 2022, information appeared that Russia could stop gas transit to Europe at any moment.

The aggressor country threatened to stop the supply of gas to the EU in the event of the introduction of a “price ceiling”. On December 27, 2022, Putin signed a decree prohibiting the supply of oil and oil products to foreign legal entities and natural persons, if the contracts provide for the introduction of a price ceiling.

On December 28, 2022, gas prices in Europe fell to pre-war levels.

On January 4, 2023, the price of gas in Europe fell to its lowest level since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

On January 4, 2023, the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine fell to a historic low.

On February 21, 2023, Gazprom increased gas pumping through Ukraine to the annual maximum.