Besides, the flow of natural gas from Russia to our country was drastically reduced in the whole of last year, as shown by the Institute's Annual Analysis of the Greek Energy Market in 2022.
In particular, there were zero gas imports from the Sidirokastro entry point in January 2023, which means that there were no Russian gas imports into Greece in the previous month. On the contrary, the entry point of Sidirokastro was used with reverse flow for exports of natural gas quantities, derived from LNG, to Bulgaria and other neighboring countries.
Thus, in January the total deliveries of 100% imported gas in Greece reached 5.1 TWh or 5.1 bcma, of which 22.0% entered via Nea Mesimvria (TAP pipeline), 1.0% via Hellino -Turkish pipeline interconnector in Evros Gardens, while 77.0% came from LNG through the Revythoussa terminal. In fact, as highlighted in the Monthly Analysis (Energy Analysis Bulletin 305 – February 2022), the said contribution of LNG to the total imported quantities of natural gas in our country last January is considered one of the highest percentages in recent years, highlighting the strategic role which is already playing and is expected to play the said fuel in the coming years.
The evidence proves that Greece is able not only to become independent of Russian energy but also to support our neighboring countries in the Balkans through gas exports. As, moreover, the Annual Analysis of IENE for 2022 shows (Energy Analysis Bulletin 302 – January 2022), last year Greece exported 29.54 TWh to neighboring countries - mainly through Sidirokastro (in reverse flow) and IGB – corresponding to 34.27% of the total quantities received by the country in 2022.
From the above analysis it follows that, in total for 2022, gas imports from Russia via Sidirokastro corresponded to 14% of Greece's total gas imports, a percentage significantly reduced compared to 2021, which amounted to 40%. But also the total imports of natural gas were reduced in 2022 compared to the previous year by 12%, reaching 62 TWh, being very close to the levels of 2020 (63 TWh), a year with reduced consumption due to the measures to deal with the coronavirus.
As for the origin of natural gas imports in total in 2022, 4.0% of them were imported from Turkey (Turkish Basket) through the Kipi gate, 20.0% from the New Meridian gate - with gas coming from Azerbaijan transported via the TANAP-TAP pipeline system - while the lion's share (62%) was held by LNG via the Agia Triada gate, coming from the neighboring Revythoussa terminal. The contribution of LNG in 2022 is considered one of the highest in recent years, highlighting the important role that this fuel already plays and is expected to play in the coming years in the context of Greece's independence from Russian natural gas.
