In January 2025, there was a surge in gas consumption in Greece (7.68 TWh), reaching an all-time high since the start of data recording (2008). LNG was the first source of imports with a 56.2% share, maintaining the trend established since November 2024. Greece is in the worst position among the EU-27 Member States, increasing its gas consumption by a large margin between 2024 and 2023.
Consumption in January 2025
According to the latest data available from DESFA, January 2025 recorded the highest domestic gas consumption since 2008. Monthly consumption exceeded 7 TWh (7.68 TWh), which had only happened twice before, in January 2019 (7.46 TWh) and December 2024 (7.13 TWh). Compared to January 2023, consumption has increased by 27.2%.
The increase in gas in January 2025, compared to the same month in 2024, was driven exclusively by gas-based electricity production, as the other two uses (industry and grids) recorded a decrease.
In detail, gas use in electricity was the highest in five years for the month of January, up 54.2% (+1.74 TWh) compared to the same month last year. In contrast, industry recorded a slight decrease of 2.5% (-0.02 TWh), as did grids -3.5% (-0.07 TWh).
Imports in January 2025
Total imports in January were 7.86 TWh, while exports from the IGB (Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria) with the exit point at Komotini were 0.16 TWh.
The first source of imports in Greece was liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Agia Triada gateway with 3.38 TWh and a share of 43.2%. Combined with LNG imported from the Amphitriti gate (1.03 TWh or 13.2%), total LNG imports in January reached 4.42 TWh or 56.2%.
The share of Russian pipeline gas imports from the Sidirokastro gate was smaller (35.5% or 2.79 TWh). Nevertheless, Russian gas imports through this gate were the highest in five years for the month of January and even increased by 42.8% compared to January 2024.
Azeri gas from TAP through the New Mesimvria gate followed in share with 8.3% (0.66 TWh).
Imports from the fifth gateway at Kipoi continue to be zero as of January 2024.
Greece’s dependence on Russian gas
Fossil gas from Russia is imported into Greece in different forms. One is through the Turkstream pipeline from the Sidirokastro gateway and the second is in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG). For the first time, imports of Russian LNG were recorded in October 2022.
By mid-2023, Russian gas in total (from pipeline and LNG) became the first source of imports, reversing the trend after the invasion of Russia to Ukraine and up to that point, when LNG from other countries held the lead. This trend was maintained for all the following months, until October 2024. One month later, in November, Russian gas dropped to second place and has remained so for the next two months (until January 2025).
Comparison between EU-27 Member States
According to the latest available Eurostat data (December 2024), Greece showed the highest percentage increase (+31.3%) in gas consumption among the EU-27 between 2023 and 2024.
Another 17 Member States also increased their gas consumption, but limited it to below 10%, while in 8 Member States gas use decreased, led by Portugal (-16.7%). As a result, the EU-27, on average, recorded a marginal increase of 0.3% in gas consumption between 2023 and 2024.
Read here the analyses of the previous months since the start of the EU reduction measures in August 2022.