Spanish natural gas demand continues to recover since a pandemic-induced collapse, and is expected to end 2020 higher than 2018 figures, according to grid operator Enagas.

The company said earlier this week conventional demand (industrial, domestic and commercial) “maintains the progressive recovery that began at the end of May.” Consumption at the end of September has reached similar levels to those of the months prior to the Covid-19 crisis, Kallanish Energy reports.

Total gas demand is estimated to end the year at 353 terawatt hour (TWh), Enagas said, without providing current volumes.

To date, the Spanish gas system has operated “at maximum technical and commercial availability,” with the contracted storage capacity reaching nearly 100% of available supply.

In the first nine months of 2020, Spain unloaded 190 LNG ships, which is 2% more than the LNG volume received in the same period in 2019. Regasification volumes were also up 4% year-on-year.

Reporting a net profit of €348.9 million in the first nine months of 2020, Enagas said it maintains its 2020 profit estimate and commitment to dividends under its 2020-2026 plan.

This post appeared first on Kallanish Energy News.