The consumption of natural gas in Greece has been reduced by 15.38% in the nine-month period 2023 compared to the same period last year, according to the National Natural Gas Transmission System (DESFA).
The Revythoussa Terminal is the main natural gas import gateway into the country during this period, followed by the entry point of Sidirokastro, whose flows seem to have decreased by approximately 30% compared to the same period last year.
More specifically, according to DESFA data, during the period January-September 2023, the domestic consumption of natural gas reached 38.07 Terawatt hours (TWh), from 44.98 TWh in the corresponding period last year, especially due to the mild winter.
Exports of natural gas through the National Natural Gas Transmission System (ESMFA) amounted to approximately 14.52 TWh, registering a decrease of 28.89% compared to last year. This reduction is mainly attributed to the start of operation of the ICGB pipeline, on 1.10.2022, through which Azeri natural gas is now channeled to Bulgaria, which until then was transported to the neighboring country through the National Transmission System.
The decrease in domestic consumption resulted in a (proportionally) smaller decrease in the quantities of natural gas imported from the LNG Terminal in Revythoussa, which amounted to 47.75% of the total imports, dropping 13.69% compared to the first nine months of 2022.