- Revithoussa LNG Terminal (Agia Triada entry point) served as the primary natural gas entry point into the country in 2023, covering 43.55% of all imports.
- There was an 84.34% increase in natural gas consumption by industrial consumers and CNG stations.
- A total of 41 LNG cargoes from 7 countries were unloaded at Revithoussa, with the LNG volume reaching 28.52 TWh.
- More than 37% of the unloaded LNG quantity at Revithoussa LNG terminal originated from the USA.
The total demand for natural gas in Greece decreased by 21.56% compared to the previous year, as per DESFA’s data for 2023. During this period, the primary natural gas import gateway into the country was Revithoussa Terminal, followed by the Sidirokastro entry point, where flows decreased by 20.82% compared to the same period last year.
Specifically, according to DESFA's relevant data for 2023, the total demand for natural gas (combining domestic consumption and exports) decreased by 21.56%, reaching 67.60 Terawatt hours (TWh) compared to 86.18 TWh in 2022. Domestic consumption saw a decrease of 10.13%, dropping from 56.65 Terawatt hours (TWh) to 50.91 TWh, while natural gas exports recorded a 43.48% decrease, from 29.53 Terawatt hours (TWh) to 16.69 TWh.
Natural gas imports totaled 67.71 TWh, marking a 21.41% decrease compared to 86.16 TWh in 2022. Revithoussa LNG Terminal played a significant role, covering 43.55% of imports, with approximately 28.52 TWh of LNG unloaded from 41 tankers from 7 countries. The USA retained its position as the largest LNG importer to Greece, contributing 10.75 TWh, representing 37.69% of the total LNG imports. Russia followed in second place with 8.38 TWh, trailed by Egypt (3.5 TWh), Algeria (3.47 TWh), Norway (0.97 TWh), Nigeria (0.94 TWh), and Spain (0.51 TWh).
Regarding the contribution of the remaining entry points, Sidirokastro entry point covered 34.6% of imports (23.43 TWh), followed by Nea Mesimvria entry point, which, through the TAP pipeline, covered 18.44% of imports (12.49 TWh). Finally, Kipi entry point in Evros covered 3.39% of imports (2.3 TWh).
In terms of natural gas consumer categories, the majority of domestic consumption (67.84%) is attributed to electricity production units, followed by household consumers and companies connected to the distribution networks, accounting for 21.98%. Notably, domestic industries and CNG stations, directly linked to DESFA's high-pressure system, increased their natural gas usage by 84.34% compared to the previous year, constituting 10.17% of domestic consumption in 2023.
In summary, in 2023 DESFA’s infrastructure contributed substantially to the diversification of natural gas supply sources and to the strengthening of the security of supply level both in Greece and in the wider region. The liberalization of the energy market and the regulated Third-Party Access TPA, under which DESFA provides access to the NNGS, strengthens competition among natural gas suppliers for the benefit of end consumers. Third Party Access (TPA) is governed by European Union and national law provisions, ensuring open access to any interested party.
