Primary energy resources decreased in the first seven months of the current year by 2.4%, and electricity resources increased by 2.8% compared to the same period in 2022, while the final consumption of electricity in the economy increased decreased by 5.8%, reveals the data published on Wednesday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

According to a press release from the INS, between January 1 and July 31, 2023, primary energy resources totaled 18.874 million tons of oil equivalent (toe), down by 460,700 toe compared to the same period of the previous year, according to Agerpres.

Domestic production totaled 10.641 million tep, up by 252,800 toe (+2.4%) compared to the period January 1 – July 31, 2022, and import was 8.233 million toe, down by 713,500 tep (-8.0% ).

During this period, electricity resources were 38.849 billion kWh, increasing by 1.053 billion kWh, compared to the corresponding period of 2022.

Production from thermal power plants was 9.754 billion kWh, down by 2.699 billion kWh (-21.7%).

Production from hydropower plants amounted to 12.886 billion kWh, up by 4.092 billion kWh (+46.5%), and that from nuclear power plants was 6.346 billion kWh, up by 152.4 million kWh (+2.5%).

In wind power plants, the production recorded in the first seven months of 2023 was 4.492 billion kWh, up by 56.2 million kWh compared to the same period of the previous year, and the solar energy produced in photovoltaic installations was 1.024 billion kWh, down by 143.5 million kWh.

The final consumption of electricity in this period reached 28.595 billion kWh, 7.4% lower than the corresponding period of 2022, while the final consumption of electricity in the economy decreased by 5.8%.

Public lighting decreased by 24.2%, and population consumption dropped by 11.4%.

Electricity export stood at 7.209 billion kWh, up by 3.456 billion kWh.

Own technological consumption in networks and stations was 3.046 billion kWh, down by 123.5 million kWh, INS data also show.