British Gas parent company Centrica has stated that due to the cold wave, the natural gas storage level in the UK is "worryingly low," with reserves lasting less than a week.
Mainly Used for Heating and Power Generation
According to foreign media reports, the UK is highly dependent on natural gas, not only as the main energy source for household heating but also widely used for power generation. Relevant departments are closely monitoring the situation to ensure a stable supply.
The UK newspaper The Guardian reported that Ukraine recently ceased transporting natural gas on behalf of Russia. Although the EU is trying to eliminate its dependency on Russian energy, European imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) reached a new high in 2024.
Energy analysis firm Rystad Energy's data shows that in 2024, European ports received 17.8 million tons of Russian LNG, an increase of more than 2 million tons from the previous year. Analysts have noted that the flow of LNG is not only continuously rising but has reached a "historic high."
Although Europe has significantly reduced the import of pipeline natural gas since the Russia-Ukraine war, the volume of LNG shipments purchased from multiple countries, including Russia, has gradually increased. In 2024, Russia surpassed Qatar to become Europe's second-largest LNG supplier, only behind the United States.