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According to the data of Eurogas, in 2007 the member states of EU (27) have consumed a total of 505 bcm of natural gas, which is 1,5% less the amount used in 2006. The main reasons for this development are the increase of the natural gas prices in some member states, as well as the relatively mild weather throughout the year.
Natural gas accounts for 24,6% of the primary energy consumption in EU. Of all the EU member states the Netherlands top the index with natural gas making up 43% of the country's primary energy consumption. On the other hand is Finland with only 11%. Bulgaria is also at the bottom of the table with just 13%.
In EU27 natural gas has been mostly used for commercial and residential services (34%), in the industrial sector (33%), but also for power generation (26%)
What concerns the end usage, the average consumption of natural gas in EU27 per person per year for 2007 was 949 cm. Here again the Netherlands hold the lead with 3095 cm/yearly per person. Meanwhile, Bulgaria with its 495 cm/yearly per person is way bellow the average for the Union.
Almost 50% of the households in EU are gasified. In Holland the number reaches 95%, in Hungary 70%, in Romania 62%. In Bulgaria, barely 1% of the households are gasified.
The extraction of natural gas in EU has dropped by 7% (198 bcm) during the 2006-2007 period. Especially significant was the reduction in the production rates of Italy (-11,5%), Denmark (-11,4%), UK (-9,9), Germany (-8,3%).
As a result, in 2007 only 38% of the natural gas demand in EU has been covered by indigenous production. The rest of the required quantities were imported from Russia (24% of all the imports), Norway (17%), Algeria (9%). Of the imported gas 87% was delivered through pipelines, while the rest 13% were shipped in the form of LNG.
There are 129 natural gas storage facilities in EU with a combine capacity of 76,3 bcm and with extraction capacity of 1,446 bcm daily. Germany has the greatest storage capability in EU with 46 storage facilities with capacity of 19,9 bcm. Following are Italy (10 storages, 13,4 bcm) and France (15 storages, 11,7 bcm).