Belgium's Oil and Gas Supply Under the Spotlight as Winter Looms

Belgium's supply of oil and gas is under scrutiny as winter approaches. The country relies heavily on imports, with fossil fuels accounting for nearly three-quarters of its energy sources.

In 2025, oil and petroleum products made up 43.3% of primary energy consumption, while natural gas accounted for 24.3%. These fossil fuels are imported from various countries, including Norway, Kazakhstan, the United States, and OPEC nations.

Belgium maintains emergency oil reserves equivalent to 90 days' worth of net imports of crude oil and petroleum products. This reserve can be used to address supply issues in Belgium or mobilized by the International Energy Agency to assist other member countries.

However, experts are divided on the sufficiency of these reserves. Francesco Contino, a professor at UCLouvain Polytechnic School, believes that strategic stocks and refinery capacity may not be enough to meet demand for refined products like fuel oil and diesel.