Czech companies consumed nearly a fifth less natural gas year on year

Companies in Czechia consumed 4,61 billion cubic metres of natural gas last year, almost a fifth less year on year. Consumption of hard coal also fell by roughly a tenth, while consumption of brown coal rose. Compared with 2021, companies’ demand for motor gasoline was also nearly 12 percent higher, while interest in diesel edged down year on year. The figures were published today by the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO), which collected data from companies with 20 or more employees.

Natural gas consumption by companies fell by 19,6 percent year on year last year. „The impact of the geopolitical situation and the related rise in market prices was evident,“ statisticians said. Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine at the end of February last year, leading to a sharp rise in gas prices.

Gas consumption fell last year across all sectors where it is most widely used. The largest consumers of this energy commodity were the energy sector and the manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products, which includes glassworks, for example.

Electricity consumption by companies was also slightly lower last year. It fell by 0,8 percent overall to 45,4 terawatt-hours. According to statisticians, the services sector consumed more electricity year on year.

The CZSO recorded a 10,6 percent drop in hard coal consumption. Companies used 5,1 million tonnes last year, compared with more than 5,7 million in 2021. By contrast, brown coal consumption by companies rose by 13 percent year on year last year to 31,9 million tonnes. „Consumption thus broadly mirrored the trend in domestic coal mining,“ statisticians noted.

Companies consumed 195,8 million litres of motor gasoline last year, up 11,6 percent year on year. By contrast, the CZSO recorded a 1,7 percent fall in diesel consumption to 2,5 billion litres. In industry alone, however, it edged up compared with 2021. The transport sector accounted for roughly half of diesel consumption.

Energy and fuel consumption by companies with 20 or more employees in the Czech Republic:

source: CZSO