Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 4, Preliminary official data showed that Norway produced 332 million standard cubic meters per day (MMscmd) of natural gas in August, an increase of 0.7 percent from July’s final figure and 1.2 percent higher than the government forecast. According to the Norwegian Offshore Directorate (NOD), this marked the second consecutive month of rising gas production after four months of decline.

However, Norway's gas production in the last six months remained below the corresponding months last year.

Despite the improvement, Norway’s gas output over the last six months remained lower than the same period in 2024. Gas sales in August totaled 10.3 billion standard cubic meters (scm), up by 100 MMscm compared to July.

The European Commission’s latest quarterly gas market report, covering the first quarter of 2025, showed that Norway continued as the European Union’s largest gas supplier, including both pipeline and liquefied volumes. It accounted for 31 percent of the EU’s total imports, or 21.7 billion cubic meters (Bcm). Norway also retained its position as the EU’s top pipeline gas provider, delivering 20.6 Bcm, equivalent to 55 percent of piped imports. This represented a five-percentage-point increase from the previous quarter, following the conclusion of the Ukraine-Russia transit deal.

Norway’s oil production in August averaged 1.92 million barrels per day (MMbd), down 2.3 percent from July but up 8.1 percent from August 2024. The figure exceeded the NOD projection by 7.1 percent. Total liquids output stood at 2.12 MMbd, reflecting a 2.3 percent month-on-month decline but a 6.2 percent year-on-year rise.

In the second quarter of 2025, majority state-owned Equinor ASA reported that its Norwegian equity gas and liquids production averaged 704,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) and 655,000 boed, respectively. The company noted in its July 23 quarterly report: "New production from the Johan Castberg field reaching plateau and Halten East contributed. Together, this offset natural decline, impact from the turnaround at Hammerfest LNG and maintenance at the Kollsnes processing plant."

Equinor began oil production at Johan Castberg and gas output at Halten East late in the first quarter of 2025. On Tuesday, the company announced the startup of the Askeladd West field in the Barents Sea, which will provide new feed gas for Hammerfest LNG.

Equinor stated that planned maintenance activities are expected to reduce its full-year production by about 30,000 boed.

Overall, August figures showed a mixed trend for Norway’s petroleum sector, with steady gas output growth contrasted by a slight dip in oil volumes compared to July, though still well above last year’s levels. The latest developments highlight Norway’s continued central role in Europe’s energy supply while demonstrating the impact of new projects and maintenance schedules on production performance.