MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. Natural gas consumption in non-CIS countries fell by 34 bln cubic meters over eleven months of this year to the level in the year of 1996, Gazprom said.

"Crisis phenomena were the most clearly manifested in the European gas market, where the artificial destruction of natural gas demand takes place for the first time in the history of global energy industry. According to preliminary estimates, gas consumption in non-CIS European countries dropped by 34 bln cubic meters and is at the 1996 year level," the gas holding said.

Gas production in this region started declining again and plunged by 18 bln cubic meters as of the end of eleven months of 2023, including by 9 bln cubic meters with Norway. "Therefore, energy security risks are growing significantly in European countries, especially in winter months," Gazprom noted.