Costs of importing natural gas into Germany more than doubled last year

The cost of importing natural gas into Germany rose by 109 percent last year to 74 billion euros (roughly CZK 1.7 trillion). The volume of these imports, meanwhile, fell by 30 percent to 100.2 billion cubic meters, according to data released today by the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA).

Last year's developments reflect the curtailment of gas supplies from Russia, which led to a sharp rise in prices. According to BAFA data, the average gas import price in Germany almost tripled last year.

Germany was more dependent on Russian gas than many other European countries. It imported the gas mainly via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which Russia completely shut down last year following a series of disputes. Germany therefore began making greater use of pipelines from Norway, the Netherlands, Britain and Denmark, as well as seaborne deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG). It also managed to reduce gas consumption, helped by relatively warm weather.