Primary energy production decreased 4.7% in the first half of this year, reaching approximately 8.14 million tonnes of oil equivalent (toe), while imports rose 12.5%, to nearly 8 million toe, according to data the National Institute of Statistics (INS) published on Tuesday.

The main primary energy resources totalled 16.13 million toe, up 3.1% compared to the same period last year. Crude oil resources increased 19.1%, reaching 5.6 million toe (almost 1.3 million toe produced domestically and 4.4 million toe imported). Natural gas resources rose 7.9%, to 5 million toe (3.7 million toe production and 1.3 million toe import). Resources from hydroelectric, wind, solar, nuclear heat and imported electricity grew 3.3%, to 3 million toe (2.3 million toe domestic production and 806,000 toe imports), while imported petroleum products decreased to around 1.5 million toe (down 31.3%).

Electricity resources amounted to 34.25 billion kWh, an increase of over 1 billion kWh compared to January-June 2024.

Electricity production from thermal power plants was 8.16 billion kWh, down 2.2%; from hydroelectric plants, it was 6.35 billion kWh, down 26.4%; and from nuclear power plants, it was 5.13 billion kWh, down 1%.

Electricity generated from wind farms exceeded 3 billion kWh, a decrease of 12%, while solar energy produced from photovoltaic installations during this period reached 2.22 billion kWh, an increase of 33.6%.

Final electricity consumption in the first six months of the year was 24.87 billion kWh, 0.5% higher than the same period last year. Final electricity consumption in the economy fell 0.9%, household consumption rose 5.3%, while public lighting registered a decrease of 7.6%. Technological consumption in transmission and distribution networks was 2.48 billion kWh, down 3.9%.

Electricity exports amounted to 6.9 billion kWh, an increase of 17.5%.

AGERPRES