Belgium was a crucial link for the energy supply of neighbouring France and Germany last year. Thanks to the Belgian supply, lights remained on in Paris and German homes and businesses were kept warm.
Figures on the cross-border electricity trade show that Belgium was the largest net electricity exporter to France, which relied on mass energy imports due to problems in its nuclear power plants and a reduced output at hydropower plants, De Tijd reports.
Net exports from Belgium to France in 2022 were almost four times greater than the previous year.
Germany had to rely heavily on the import of natural gas via Belgium. While the gas producers Norway and Russia are Europe's largest direct suppliers, Belgium was third in supply according to official German statistics – just ahead of the Netherlands.
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Belgium became the most important transit country, acting as a conduit for 13 times more gas than in 2021.
Unable to make up for the drop in piped gas supplies from Russia with liquefied natural gas (LNG) by ship, Germany was dependent on the Fluxys terminals of Zeebrugge and Dunkirk to obtain vital LNG.
Submarine pipelines from Norway and the United Kingdom to Zeebrugge also supplied gas to Germany.
