Natural gas – a clean-burning natural product

Natural gas is colourless, non-toxic and almost half as light as air. It is produced by drilling deep into the earth − just like oil.

Natural gas is a low-emission fuel with a high rate of efficiency. Its net calorific value (NCV) is 10 kWh/m3n, so one cubic metre of natural gas corresponds to one litre of domestic fuel oil in terms of the quantity of heat released during combustion.

The composition of natural gas varies slightly depending on its area of origin. The natural gas imported to Finland from Western Siberia is extremely pure and consistent in quality. It contains 98% of methane and 2% of both ethane and nitrogen as well as very small amounts of propane, carbon dioxide and oxygen. Natural gas contains virtually no sulphur and no dust or heavy metals at all. The combustion of natural gas creates carbon dioxide, water vapour and nitric oxides.

Natural gas resources

Finland has no own natural gas reserves but is surrounded by rich sources of natural gas. Most of the world's current gas reserves can be found in former Soviet states and the Middle East. Russia is by far the largest individual natural gas producing nation, holding 33% of the world's proved natural gas reserves − a total of 48,000 billion cubic metres. At the moment all of the natural gas consumed in Finland is imported from Russia.