Slight drop in electricity consumption in 2012

According to preliminary estimates by Synergrid, the Belgian federation of gas and electricity networks, electricity consumption decreased by 1.2% last year, the Enerdata website reports. This decline was slightly more pronounced for large industrial customers (2.1%) than for those connected to distribution networks (0.8%). The year was characterised by very high electricity imports: more than 12% of all electricity consumed in Belgium in 2012 was imported. In the last quarter of 2012, net imports have even covered 23% of consumption, following the temporary shutdown of the Tihange 2 and Doel 3 nuclear power plants. Gas consumption in Belgium, meanwhile, increased slightly (1.2%) compared to the previous year. Only the segment of residential, commercial and SME connected to distribution networks increased compared to 2011 (11.5%), due to lower temperatures in 2012. Consumption by large industrial customers declined by 3.3% throughout the year, while gas demand from thermal power plants fell by 10.7% in 2012, even during the temporary nuclear shut-down.