Western Europe

Austria OMV Erdgas has signed an agreement with Gazexport, a subsidiary of Russia's Gazprom, under which gas imports will rise from 5.5bn cm/y to 6.5bn cm/y. The agreement also extends all existing contracts to 2012. OMV notes that it became the first Western firm to sign a long-term gas-import contract with the then Soviet Union in 1968. Belgium A study into future energy consumption by the government's Bureau de Plan forecasts that the gas contribution will rise from 23% in 2000 to 40% in 2030, when consumption will amount to 27bn cm/y. Other shares in 2030 will be liquid fuels, 39%, solid fuels, 16%, renewables, 4%, and primary electricity, 1%. Denmark's Dong has signed a hub service agre