Norway Cranks up the Ouput for January

Norway's gas production in January was 10.4bn m³, an increase of 4% on the forecast which it made in December, the upstream regulator NPD said February 16. 

It was also an increase of 0.1bn m³ (1%) from December, according to the preliminary data. February is also likely to be above the forecast owing to the exceptionally cold weather seen this month too. Gas demand in the UK and the European Union rose for heating and for power generation as wind power fell sharply.

The volume was also rewarded with relatively high prices for day-ahead gas for over a week from February 8 at the major gas trading hubs. Most Norwegian gas is sold on spot markets.

Nearly all Norway's gas is exported by pipeline although some is used in petrochemicals and some is exported as a liquid. But its major methanol plant and its Hammerfest LNG plant have been out of action following fires late last year, which are still both being investigated.