6. Natural gas
Key data
(2018 provisional)
Domestic production: none
Net imports: 0.50 bcm, -48% since 2008
Share of natural gas: 7.3% of TPES, 0.5% of electricity generation, 8.1% of TFC (2017)
Gas consumption by sector (2017): 0.49 bcm (power and heat generation 40.8%, industry 24.2%, commercial 19.1%, residential 13.6%, transport 1.2%, other energy 1.1%)
Overview
Natural gas is not a major energy source in Estonia. In 2018, total supply of natural gas was 0.50 billion cubic metres (bcm), equivalent to 7% of total primary energy supply (TPES), which was the third-lowest share of natural gas in TPES among International Energy Agency (IEA) countries (the IEA average is 23%). Over the last decade, the share of natural gas has fallen sharply in both TPES and total final consumption (TFC) (Figure 6.1). The drop in Estonia’s natural gas consumption is mainly due to declining gas demand in heating and industry, due to switching to renewable energy sources.
Figure 6.1 Share of natural gas in different energy metrics, 1990-2018
16% |
Share of natural gas |
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1990 |
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14% |
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1998 |
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12% |
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2008 |
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10% |
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2018 |
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8% |
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6% |
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4% |
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2% |
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0% |
Total primary energy supply |
Electricity generation |
Total final energy consumption* |
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IEA 2019. All rights reserved.
The share of natural gas in Estonia’s energy mix has declined sharply over the last decade, primarily the consequence of switching to renewable energy sources.
* Latest total final consumption data are for 2017.
Source: IEA (2019a), World Energy Balances 2019, www.iea.org/statistics.
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ENERGY SECURITY