Norway gas export hits record in December; full-year drops 6.7%

Gassco had anticipated more extensive maintenance in 2023 after some deferrals to help run its network and export terminals at close to capacity in the previous year. Pipeline gas supply to Europe between January and August had dropped 6.4% it said previously, and Norway's natural gas output hit a four-year low in September.

Norway's export of natural gas via pipelines to Europe hit an all-time high in December but still declined by 6.7% overall in 2023 following lengthy maintenance outages, pipeline system operator Gassco told Reuters on Wednesday. "December was a fantastic month when it comes to production from the Norwegian continental shelf," Alfred Skaar Hansen, Gassco's senior vice president for system operation told Reuters.

Norway in 2022 overtook Russia as Europe's biggest source of gas as Moscow cut supplies amid the war in Ukraine, increasing the focus on the security and reliability of the Norwegian energy industry. In total, Gassco delivered 109.1 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas through its 8,800-kilometre (5468-mile) pipeline network in 2023, down from 116.9 bcm a year prior, it told Reuters.

The full-year volume for 2023 had not previously been reported. Gassco had anticipated more extensive maintenance in 2023 after some deferrals to help run its network and export terminals at close to capacity in the previous year.

Pipeline gas supply to Europe between January and August had dropped 6.4%

it said previously, and Norway's natural gas output hit a four-year low in September. However, some of the work in 2023 also sought to increase capacity at the Kollsnes processing plant, which is now paying dividends, Hansen said.

Deliveries in December set a new monthly record of 11.1 bcm, up from the previous high of 10.9 bcm in January 2017, amid stable production, good availability of processing facilities and steadfast demand.