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Norway is Europe's biggest gas supplier

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Pipeline gas exports up 10% year-on-year so far

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Maintenance ahead of winter will be closely watched

By Nora Buli

STAVANGER, Norway, Aug 27 (Reuters) -

Norwegian pipeline gas exports to Europe could approach a

2017 historic record this year, after rising 10% so far in 2024

following a decline in 2023, the head of system operator Gassco

told Reuters on Tuesday.

"This year to date, we are in a way back to the levels we

were at in 2022," when exports were last near the all-time high,

Gassco CEO Frode Leversund told Reuters in an interview on the

sidelines of an energy conference.

Following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and reduced

shipments of Russian gas, Norway has become Europe's largest gas

supplier.

As of the end of July, Norwegian piped gas volumes totalled

70.2 billion cubic metres (bcm), compared with 64 bcm for the

same period last year, Leversund said, marking the first time

Gassco provided accumulated delivery volumes for 2024.

The increase was due to strong demand from European

customers, high system availability, less heavy maintenance and

upgrades at the Kollsnes processing plant, the CEO added.

In 2023, Gassco delivered 109.1 billion cubic metres (bcm)

of gas through its 8,800-km (5,468-mile) pipeline network to

Belgium, Britain, France, Germany and Denmark, down 6.7% from

116.9 bcm a year earlier.

A 10% rise over the full year could see deliveries

surpassing the record of 117.4 bcm reached in 2017.

"I'm not going to say that there will be an export record,

but we will see figures around the highest deliveries we have

had based on current assumptions," Leversund said.

About 95% of Norway's gas exports go via pipelines, while

another 5% comes from liquefied natural gas outside of Gassco's

system.

The Norwegian gas system is entering its peak maintenance

season from the end of August, timed to ensure it is in shape

for crucial winter demand.

Given Norway's dominant supplier position, any unforeseen

problems and delays can quickly move gas prices higher.

The safety of the Norwegian system has also come under

closer scrutiny since the destruction of the Russian-German Nord

Stream subsea gas pipelines in 2022, with Gassco regularly

surveying Norwegian pipes.

"This year we have carried out a comprehensive pipe

inspection, though I don't want go into detail about which pipes

and which landing points," Leversund said.

On Monday, security services from seven European countries

briefed Norwegian energy executives and officials about what

they saw as Russian threats to critical infrastructure.