In March 2023, Luxembourg reduced its gas consumption by 20.5% compared to the reference period 2017-2022. Photo: Shutterstock

In March 2023, Luxembourg reduced its gas consumption by 20.5% compared to the reference period 2017-2022. Photo: Shutterstock

Luxembourg’s energy ministry on 4 April announced that the country had reduced its consumption of natural gas by 26.3% overall, surpassing its 15% reduction goal. In March alone, the reduction amounted to 20.5%.

In July 2022, EU member states committed to voluntarily reducing natural gas demand by 15% between 1 August 2022 and 31 March 2023 to prepare for possible disruptions to gas supply from Russia during the winter.

As announced by the Luxembourg energy ministry on 4 April, the country achieved this goal, and even surpassed it, reducing its consumption of gas by 26.3% overall between 1 August 2022 and 31 March 2023.

In March 2023, the grand duchy’s reduction in natural gas consumption corresponded to approximately 20.5% when compared to the reference period of the years 2017 to 2022, reported the energy ministry.

Goals of gas demand reduction to be extended

At the meeting of the Council of the European Union on 28 March 2023, on a proposal to extend their voluntary 15% gas demand reduction target for one year. The objective of natural gas savings of 15% will remain in place until 31 March 2024.

“The extension of the gas demand reduction target is good news: in addition to strengthening Europe’s energy independence and preparing us for next winter, it allows us to fight climate change by limiting our fossil energy needs,” said Luxembourg’s energy minister  (déi Gréng).

Ahead of the council meeting, “pro-renewable” member states, namely Luxembourg, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Ireland, Latvia and Estonia also met to discuss European renewable energy targets.

Important to “keep up the work”

“The EU is not completely out of the energy crisis and Russia continues to use energy as a weapon,” said Ebba Busch, Sweden’s minister for energy, business and industry. Sweden took over the rotating EU council presidency in January and will hold the position for six months. “The overall EU consumption of natural gas has dropped by 19.3% between August 2022 and January 2023. Reducing our gas demand has allowed us to fill our storages, keep prices down and secure more energy supplies. It’s important that we keep up the work and stay resilient.”

Luxembourg also continued to reduce its electricity consumption. In March 2023, the decrease was -4.09% compared to the reference period 2017 to 2022, noted the country’s energy ministry.

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