Belgium Energy Information

Total Energy Consumption

Total energy consumption per capita is around 60%higher than the EU average, at 4.8 toe in 2021. Electricity consumption per capita is a third above the EU average and amounted to around 7 200 kWh in 2021.

Graph: CONSUMPTION TRENDS BY ENERGY SOURCE (Mtoe)

Graph: TOTAL CONSUMPTION MARKET SHARE BY ENERGY (2021, %)

Interactive Chart Belgium Total Energy Consumption

Crude Oil Production

All the oil is imported (57 Mt in 2021). Crude oil accounts for around 55% of oil imports. In 2021, around 2/3 of crude oil was imported from Russia (29%), Norway (17%), the UK (10%), and Saudi Arabia (8%).

There are four refineries, all located in Anvers, with a total capacity of (837 kb/d). The refineries are focused on diesel production (around half of total production).

Interactive Chart Belgium Crude Oil Production

Oil Products Consumption

Oil consumption rebounded by 9% to 19 Mt in 2021 after a 10% decrease in 2020. Previously, oil consumption declined by 1.2%/year over 2015-2019.

Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION (Mt)

In 2021, industry (including non-energy uses) represented 39% of the oil consumption, transport 37% (39% in 2020), and residential services & agriculture 18%.

Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2021, %)

Interactive Chart Belgium Refined Oil Products Production

Natural Gas Consumption

Since 2015, gas consumption has been increasing by 1.2%/year on average (+0.5% in 2021) to 18.5 bcm in 2021.

Graph: NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION (bcm)

Buildings (residential and services sector) accounted for 37% of total gas consumption; the remaining amount is mainly consumed in industry (35%) and in electricity production (21%) (2021).

Graph: GAS CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2021, %)

Interactive Chart Belgium Natural Gas Domestic Consumption

Coal Consumption

Coal consumption has been declining since 1990, reaching 3.6 Mt in 2020, but saw a slight 5% increase in 2021 to 3.8 Mt.

Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION (Mt)

Industry is the main coal consumer, with a share of 78% (42% in 2009), followed by power plants with only 12% compared to 44% in 2009.

Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2021, %)

Interactive Chart Belgium Coal and Lignite Domestic Consumption

Power Consumption

Electricity consumption remained roughly stable between 2010 and 2018, at around 83 TWh/year, and decreased by 1.6%/year until 2020 before increasing by about 3% in 2021 to 83 TWh.

Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION (TWh)

The industrial sector accounts for 45% of the country's electricity consumption, compared to 26% for services and 23% for the residential sector (2021).

Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2021, %)

Renewable in % Electricity Production

Belgium was 1 point short of its 2020 target for a 13% share of renewables in final consumption, but reached its objective for transport (11% vs a target of 10%). The target set in the NECP is 17.5% in 2030.

Interactive Chart Belgium Share of Renewables in Electricity Production (incl hydro)

CO₂ Fuel Combustion/CO₂ Emissions

GHG emissions (excl. LULUCF) have remained stable since 2015 at around 115 MtCO₂eq, which is 23% below their 1990 level.

The policies to fight Climate Change are defined at the federal level, while the implementation is split between the State and the regions: each region has its own climate plan and target. The National Climate Commission (NCC) controls the implementation of the National Climate Plan.