Muscat – Oman’s natural gas consumption rose by 4.8% year-on-year in the first 11 months of 2024, reaching a total of 51,831mn cubic metres (mncm), compared to 49,444 mncm in the same period of 2023, according to the latest data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

This increase in overall gas consumption was largely driven by a significant uptick in demand from the power generation sector. While power plants saw a sharp rise in their natural gas usage, the industrial sector and oilfields experienced a decline in consumption during the same period.

To meet the higher demand, Oman produced and imported a combined total of 51,831mncm of natural gas during the January-November period of 2024. This marks an increase of nearly 5% compared to the total gas produced and imported during the same 11-month period in 2023.

The power generation sector played a pivotal role in driving up overall consumption. Gas usage in this sector surged by a remarkable 77.1%, reaching 14,074mncm during the first 11 months of 2024, compared to just 7,951mncm during the same period in 2023. This sharp increase can be attributed to increased energy demand as Oman continues to expand its power generation capacity to support economic growth and population needs.

However, the industrial sector, which remains the largest consumer of natural gas in Oman, saw a decline in consumption. Industrial projects consumed 26,517mncm during the first 11 months of this year, a decrease of 8.2% from the 28,893mncm used in the same period in 2023.

Similarly, gas consumption in the oilfields dropped by 10.9%, reaching 11,010mncm in the first 11 months of 2024, compared to 12,363mncm in the corresponding period last year. This reduction could be linked to a combination of factors, including changes in oil production strategies and the increased use of alternative energy sources within the oil extraction process.