According to data from the National Institute for Statistics (INS), natural gas imports in the first half of 2024 reached 834,800 tons of oil equivalent, marking a 19.9% increase of 138,800 tons compared to the same period last year. In contrast, domestic natural gas production for the same period amounted to 3.8 million tons of oil equivalent, which represents a 1.3% rise of 48,600 tons compared to the first half of 2023.
The National Commission for Strategy and Forecast estimates that natural gas production will grow at an average annual rate of 1.7% from 2024 to 2027, following a 1.4% increase in 2023. The latest energy balance forecast anticipates the following production levels: 7.675 million tons of oil equivalent in 2024 (up by 0.6%), 7.79 million in 2025 (up by 1.5%), 7.907 million in 2026 (up by 1.5%), and 8.176 million in 2027 (up by 3.4%).
Regarding gas imports, a more than 10% increase is expected in 2024. However, a decrease in imports is projected afterward, with a notable reduction of 6% by 2027. This anticipated decline aligns with the growth in domestic production due to the commissioning of new capacities and the maintenance of transit to foreign markets.
