Germany Cuts Energy Use In 2007 By 5.6 Percent

Berlin, Germany (AHN) - A report presented Wednesday by oil giant BP said Germany reduced its energy consumption in 2007 by 5.6 percent. The reduction of use of primary sources of energy such as oil, gas, coal, nuclear and hydro resources was equivalent to 18.5 million tons of oil equivalent.

Aside from Germany, two other European nations claimed large cuts in energy consumption at levels even higher than Berlin's. These were Denmark and Azerbaijan.

On a global scale, primary energy consumption to increased by 2.4 percent in 2007. The two red-hot Asian economies of China and India accounted for the bulk of the rise. Beijing, with a 7.7 percent additional energy consumption, accounted for half of the increase, while Delhi was responsible for a third.

The U.S. used 1.7 percent more energy last year, while the EU cut theirs by 2.2 percent.

Germany has higher goals to further cut by 2020 its carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent of its 1990 levels, said German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament turned down a compromise agreement by EU member-states which would allow energy companies to keep their grids and pipelines. Instead the parliament pushed for the energy sector to be more competitive by forcing big gas and electric firms to sell their distribution networks.

Eleven EU nations have laws that prohibit gas firms from own distribution networks, while seven have a similar ban on electric companies.