Czech natural gas consumption up by 9.1% in Jan-Sept

Prague, Nov 20 (CTK) - Czech natural gas consumption grew by 9.1 percent in Jan-Sept compared to last year, which was mainly caused by colder weather this year, preliminary data of the Czech Gas Union (CPU) and Bilancni centrum, which monitors and evaluates gas flows, have shown.

The total gas supplies increased by 7.5 percent to 5.9 billion cubic metres, data said.

Weather has the biggest impact on gas consumption: the colder the weather the higher the consumption. This year's average temperature was lower by nearly one degree Celsius year-on-year.

Mild winters together with cost-saving measures and insulations of houses were the main reasons behind drop in gas consumption by around one tenth in the past five years.

Gas consumption might grow in the future due to new gas power plants, which for example energy company CEZ plans to build, CPU said.

According to CPU, high prices of electricity play into the hands of projects aimed at constructing sources like these.

"Nowadays, seven projects of a total output of 1,820 megawatts are in various stages of development, which is only a slightly lower output than both units of the nuclear power plant Temelin produce," CPU secretary general Josef Kastl said.

In the years to come, the share of gas in the production of electricity should increase from 4.7 percent last year.

In the EU-27 members, gas makes up around one-fifth of power production.

There are around 2.8 million gas consumers in the Czech Republic, while there are around 30 gas sellers.

The country is fully dependent on foreign natural gas supplies. The share of domestic gas extraction in total gas supplies is around 1 percent.

Gas consumption, supplies and temperatures in Q1-Q3 2007 and 2008:

20072008 Consumption5.45 (billion m3)5.95 (billion m3) Supplies5.48 (billion m3)5.89 (billion m3) Temperature11.6 (degrees Celsius)10.7 (degrees Celsius)

Source:Bilancni centrum