Increased gas-to-power use in Spain and injections into underground storage facilities helped offset the seasonal decline in demand in the week to Sunday, pushing LNG sendout to a nine-week high, data from grid operator Enagas showed Monday.
While conventional gas demand -- from homes and businesses -- was at its lowest since week 40 last year at the onset of the winter season, demand for gas-fired generation hit 1.1 TWh in week 24, the highest since week 5 this year, the data showed.
At the same time, the pace of injections into underground storage facilities rose, totaling 0.5 TWh in the week, the largest volume since the start of the year. These two factors helped total end-user demand reach 5.0 TWh, the highest in four weeks.
To meet the increase in demand and storage injections, LNG sendout from the six terminals, at 2.4 TWh, was its highest since week 14, while net imports via pipeline totaled 3.1 TWh, the highest in seven weeks.
At the end of the week, underground storage levels were 18.6 TWh, or 61% full, from 18.1 TWh a week earlier.
Meanwhile, LNG storage levels dropped to 9.7 TWh, or 46% full, from 10.1 TWh, due to the increased sendout and lower-than-expected incoming volume.
The country received three tankers in week 24, in line with the total nominated at the end of last month.
However, total incoming volume was 14% lower than the amount nominated, at 338,000 cu m, as all three tankers delivered less volume than nominated.
There were no LNG reloads either nominated or made during the week -- the 17th consecutive week with no LNG exports from the country, Enagas said.
