European Natural Gas
Reserves and Resources

European gas production can be sustained and even increased with a favorable regulatory framework.

By complementing much needed energy savings and renewable energy deployment, these gas reserves can be used within the framework of the EU’s climate neutrality objective, helping achieve it on the way.

3470 bcm

Reserves in the EU + Norway

40%

of EU demand is met by domestic (EU + Norway) production

15-30 years

of production at current levels possible with known reserves

By complementing much-needed energy savings and renewable energy deployment, European gas reserves can be used within the framework of the EU’s climate neutrality objective, helping achieve it on the way.

Download Map

Natural gas reserves are commercial reserves that are either proved or probable.

Natural gas resources are the expected total recoverable economical resources.

EU	Reserves (bcm)	Resources (bcm)
Austria	13	18
Croatia	16	35
Cyprus	0	372
Denmark	58	54
France	1	64
Germany	71	111
Greece	0	13
Hungary	18	72
Ireland	26	70
Italy	62	100
Netherlands	174	269
Poland	107	811
Portugal	0	14
Romania	147	175
Slovakia	1	12
Slovenia	0	11
Spain	1	19
Total	694	2220
Europe non-EU	Reserves (bcm)	Resources (bcm)
Norway	2775	2789
Ukraine	333	1020
UK	395	1190
Total	3503	4999
Middle East	Reserves (bcm)	Resources (bcm)
Israel	1138	1247
Lebanon	0	41
Syria	69	805
Turkey	77	391
Total	1284	2484
North Africa	Reserves (bcm)	Resources (bcm)
Algeria	2745	2699
Egypt	1448	1440
Libya	480	1002
Morocco	4	114
Tunisia	21	34
Total	4698	5288

Natural gas produced domestically brings clear benefits:

Thanks to the highest environmental standards in the world and reduced transportation distance, natural gas produced in the EU has a 30% lower footprint than imported gas.

Domestic supplies provide the EU with the greatest level of energy security possible, since they come from a reliable and predictable source.

Domestically produced natural gas creates employment and economic activity in Europe.

Policy Recommendations

The EU should maximize the production of European gas reserves to reinforce its strategic energy autonomy while reducing its carbon footprint.

Accelerate and upscale existing projects that can deliver the quantities of gas needed within the timescale, including by boosting the development of Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean fields

Encourage exploration activities to discover additional resources which may come online in 5-10 years, helping achieve energy independence and reduce the EU’s import bill.