Primary energy consumption in the European Union increased by 5.9% in 2021, to 1,309 billion tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe), but still below the level of 2019 (1,354 Mtoe), according to the data published on Monday by the European Statistics Office (Eurostat) .

When compared to the average from 2017 to 2019, a total of 18 EU Member States reported a decrease in primary and final energy consumption in 2021, maintaining the trend from 2020, when all EU Member States experienced a decline in consumption primary and final energy. Primary energy consumption decreased the most in Estonia (minus 16.8%), Portugal (minus 13.3%) and Greece (minus 10.5%), and the biggest increases were in Lithuania (5.7 %), Poland (2.8%) and Romania (2.2%). Compared to the average from 2017 to 2019, the most severe decline in final energy consumption in 2021 was in Malta (minus 10%), Cyprus (minus 9.7%) and Portugal (minus 7.1%), and the biggest increases were in Romania (7.5%), Bulgaria (3.9%), Hungary and the Czech Republic (both with 3.3%), according to Agerpres.

Eurostat data shows that the EU has moved away from the 2030 target on energy efficiency. The closest to the target was in 2020, when it was 9.5% lower than the 2030 target.

In 2021, final energy consumption in the EU reached 968 Mtoe, an increase of 6.8% compared to 2020 and a decrease of 1.8% compared to 2019. Last year, final energy consumption was 5.4% bigger than the 2030 energy efficiency target, while in 2020 it was 7.1% bigger.