According to company data, Norway overtook Russia as the largest gas supplier to western EU countries in the first quarter of 2015. Over the first three months of 2015, Norwegian gas transmission network operator Gassco exported 29.2 bcm to western Europe, compared to 20.3 bcm exported by Gazprom (29.5 bcm and 19.8 bcm, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2014). Exports to EU members in eastern Europe are not included in the data and Gazprom remained the largest gas supplier to the whole European Union in 2014, despite a 10% drop in gas exports to the EU. In 2014, the share of Russia in EU imports dipped from 43% to 42%, while that of Norway rose from 34% to 38%.
This trend highlights the diversification policy implemented by western European countries, striving to reduce their dependence on Russian gas imports, but also political sanctions following Russia's annexation of Crimea (Ukraine).
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