Natural gas supply, demand and prices: what happened in 2011?

The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies has published a short study by Dr Anouk Honoré Senior Research Fellow at the Institute on natural gas demand in Europe in 2008-2010. The paper is a companion piece to the book “Natural Gas Supply Demand and Prices: Cycles seasons and the impact of LNG price arbitrage” published in January 2011 by the OIES. It offers a statistical update on gas demand since the book was finished.

The main text provides some concise analysis on gas demand trends and the main sectors of consumption. The appendices give additional statistical details by country. Natural gas demand in Europe will recover progressively but not necessarily faster than expected although cold temperatures at the beginning and the end of 2010 will have boosted gas demand. Although the impact of cold temperatures should not be confused with underlying recovery signs of economic improvement and as a consequence signs of a slow recovery of gas demand in 2010 enhanced by temperature effects is the overall picture.

To read the full paper, click here