New Delhi: India, the fourth largest energy consumer globally, recorded the largest volumetric decline in natural gas production and consumption last year, BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2014 said Monday.
Natural gas production in the country fell a massive 16.3 percent to 33.7 billion cubic meters from 40.3 bcm in the previous year.
India, which is world's 11th largest consumer of gas, saw consumption fall by 12.2 percent to 51.4 bcm in 2013 from 58.8 bcm in the previous year.
On both counts, India "recorded the largest volumetric decline in the world," it said.
However, it recorded the second largest volumetric increase in coal consumption on record and accounted for 21 percent of global growth.
While coal production was up 0.1 percent at 228.8 million tons of oil equivalent, consumption soared 7.6 percent to 324.3 million tons.
The review said India's oil production was almost unchanged at 894,000 barrels per day (42 million tons) while consumption was up 1.2 percent at 3.72 million bpd (175.2 million tons).
World natural gas consumption grew by 1.4 percent, below the historical average of 2.6 percent. "Growth was below average in every region except North America. China (10.8 percent) and the US (2.4 percent) recorded the largest growth increments in the world, together accounting for 81 percent of global growth," it said.
Globally, natural gas accounted for 23.7 percent of primary energy consumption and its production grew by 1.1 percent, which was well below the 10-year average of 2.6 percent.
"Growth was below average in all regions except Europe and Eurasia. The US (1.3 percent) remained the world's leading producer, but both Russia (2.4 percent) and China (9.5 percent) recorded larger growth increments in 2013," it said.
The 63rd annual review by BP said coal dominated world energy markets last year, supplying the biggest share of demand since 1970.
Coal's share of global energy use reached 30.1 percent, just below the 32.9 percent share for crude oil, which lost market share for a 14th consecutive year.
Natural gas accounted for 23.7 percent of world primary energy use.
India experienced its second largest volumetric increase on record and accounted for 21 percent of global growth.
