Imports of liquefied natural gas to the UK rose by 51% during the first quarter of 2020 compared to the previous year, Kallanish Energy reports.
The UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy’s Energy Trends report for Q1 2020 details the LNG imported during first quarter this year was 6.49 billion cubic meters, a year-over-year increase of 51% compared to same period in 2019.
Despite the sharp rise of LNG imports, total natural gas imports to the UK fell by 27% y-o-y during Q1 2020, from 15.29 Bcm to 11.23 Bcm. The decrease was attributed to lower demand, which fell by 4.6% y-o-y during the quarter, despite an increase in gas consumption.
LNG imports accounted for 49% of total UK gas imports during the first quarter, attributed to an increased diversification of gas import sources from other nations. UK gas imports are still primarily derived from Norway, while there was a decrease in imports from the Netherlands and Belgium, “due to the Bacton Zeebrugge Interconnector long term capacity contract terminating at the beginning of October 2018.”
The UK’s natural gas exports increased by 14% y-o-y, totalling 3.7 Bcm, primarily driven by greater levels of export to Ireland during the first quarter.
Natural gas production rose marginally by 3.6% during Q1 2020, reversing the downward trend recorded throughout 2019.
UK’s energy operator, National Grid, recorded LNG imports of 13.4 Bcm during the winter 2019/20 period, a 70% year-on-year increase, within its 2020 Winter Review and Consultation report, published on Wednesday. (June 29, 2020)
UNITED KINGDOM - LNG - SUPPLIES - IMPORTS - EXPORTS