Gas consumption down 18.2 percent in first six months of the year

Households accounted for about one-third of the roughly 1 billion cubic metres of gas saved, the ministry said in a statement.

In the first half of the year, households consumed 17.6 percent and business consumers 18.4 percent less gas, the ministry said, citing Central Statistical Office data.

Meanwhile, in the whole of last year Hungarians used about 17 percent less gas, owing to the mild weather. Adjusted for temperature differences, gas consumption was about 15 percent lower in 2022. Gas consumption was down by about a quarter in the heating season between October and April.

Hungary currently has 4.6 billion cubic metres of gas in domestic storage, around 46 percent of annual consumption, the ministry said, adding that this storage level was almost double the European Union average.

Electricity consumption was down 8.4 percent in January-June, the ministry said.