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.
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.