World Bulletin: European natural gas demand continues to decline
Reports show that natural gas consumption in Europe has been declining since 2011, due to a number of factors including the 2007 financial recession and the increasing consumption in favorably priced North American coal.
According to reports released by the International Energy Agency (IEA), annual natural gas consumption in 2011 in Europe was 8% lower than in 2010, while consumption of coal was 6% greater.
Reduced economic activity due to the financial crisis in 2007 dampened the overall electricity demand in Europe, especially in the industrial sectors. Total European demand is around 547 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year.