World gas consumption grows 3.3% in 2004: BP review

London (Platts)--14Jun2005

World gas consumption grew by 3.3% in 2004, above the ten year average of
2.6%, BP said Tuesday as it launched its review of energy statistics. Gas
consumption grew from 2,603.5-bil cu m in 2003 to 2,689.3 Bcm in 2004. Ten
years ago, in 1994, gas consumption was considerably lower, at 2,085.2 Bcm,
but it has been growing fairly steadily since. The growth came outside North
America. North American gas consumption in 2004 was 784.3 Bcm, pretty much
flat with the year before, despite rapid economic growth. BP said that the
lack of growth in North American consumption was due to high prices and mild
weather. The fastest growing region was South and Central America, where gas
use picked up 11.4% to 117.9 Bcm in 2004. The Middle East grew 7.2% to 242.2
Bcm, Asia Pacific by 6.0% to 367.7 Bcm and Africa 2.9% to 68.6 Bcm. Europe and
Eurasia, the largest gas consuming region, saw consumption rise 3.1% to
1,108.5 Bcm in 2004.

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