Belgium Energy Information

Total Energy Consumption

Total energy consumption per capita is 57% higher than the EU average, at 4.5 toe (2020). Electricity consumption per capita is a third above the EU average and amounted to around 7 100 kWh in 2020.

Graph: CONSUMPTION TRENDS BY ENERGY SOURCE (Mtoe)

Graph: TOTAL CONSUMPTION MARKET SHARE BY ENERGY (2020, %)

Interactive Chart Belgium Total Energy Consumption

Crude Oil Production

All the oil is imported (54 Mt in 2020). Crude oil accounts for around 53% of oil imports. Oil products are imported from Russia (32%), Saudi Arabia (19%), and Norway and Nigeria (9% each).

There are four refineries, all located in Anvers, with a total capacity of (837 kb/d). The refineries are focused on diesel production (47% of the production in 2020).

Interactive Chart Belgium Crude Oil Production

Oil Products Consumption

Oil consumption has been decreasing by 5.4%/year since 2019 (including -7% in 2020), driven by the industrial sector. Previously, oil consumption declined by 1.2%/year over 2015-2019.

Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION (Mt)

In 2020, industry (including non-energy uses) represented 41% of the oil consumption, transport 39% (42% in 2019), and residential services & agriculture 16%.

Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2020, %)

Interactive Chart Belgium Refined Oil Products Production

Natural Gas Consumption

Since 2015, gas consumption has been increasing by 2.9%/year on average (+0.6% in 2020) to 19 bcm in 2020.

Graph: NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION (bcm)

Buildings (residential and services sector) accounted for 37% of total gas consumption; the remaining amount is consumed in industry (33%) and in electricity production (27%) (2020).

Graph: GAS CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2020, %)

Interactive Chart Belgium Natural Gas Domestic Consumption

Coal Consumption

Coal consumption has been declining since 1990, reaching 3.6 Mt in 2020.

Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION (Mt)

Industry is the main coal consumer, with a share of 77% (42% in 2009), followed by power plants with only 14% compared to 44% in 2009.

Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2020, %)

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 has decreased by 1.6%/year since then.

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 (2020).

Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2020, %)

Renewable in % Electricity Production

In accordance with the European Directive on renewables, the national target was to increase the share of renewables in final consumption to 13% in 2020 (including 10% in transport, nearly 12% for heating and cooling, and nearly 21% in electricity); 9.9% was reached in 2019, of which 6.8% was in transport, 8.3% in heating and cooling, and 20.8% in electricity. 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.