Energy statistics - quantities (nrg

Energy statistics - quantities (nrg_quant)

National Reference Metadata in Single Integrated Metadata Structure (SIMS)

Compiling agency: FPS Economy - DG Energy - "Energy Monitoring & Electricity System" service

For any question on data and metadata, please contact: Eurostat user support

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1. Contact

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1.1. Contact organisation

FPS Economy - DG Energy - "Energy Monitoring & Electricity System" service

1.2. Contact organisation unit

"Energy Monitoring" cell

1.5. Contact mail address

2. Metadata update

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2.1. Metadata last certified

27/09/2022

2.2. Metadata last posted

27/09/2022

2.3. Metadata last update

14/07/2022

3. Statistical presentation

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3.1. Data description

Energy statistics provide annual, quarterly and monthly data about energy supply and consumption in Belgium.

They mainly consider the wide range of variables needed to build the energy balances:

production;
imports / exports;
stock changes;
transformation;
consumption;
...

With various levels of detail depending on the statistics, they distinguish between different:

energy vectors: oil and petroleum products, natural gas, solid fuels, electricity and heat, renewable sources and wastes;
consumption sectors: energy sector, final consumption sectors (industry, transport, households...).

3.1.1. Data description – details and links to EU data collections

Name of the national data collection	National body responsible	List of variables included in this data collection	Link to EU data collections (by frequency, energy product set, sector)
Monthly oil questionnaire	FPS Economy - DG Energy - Energy Monitoring & Electricity System	All variables needed to fill in the monthly and annual oil questionnaires: stocks, import per country, export per country, refinery intake, refinery output, deliveries to final consumers per sector, … for each oil product	Oil and petroleum products - Monthly statistics / Oil and petroleum products - Short-term monthly oil statistics For the sectors below with some of the following energy products: Crude oil; Natural Gas Liquids; Refinery feedstocks; Additives-oxygenates; Other hydrocarbons; Refinery gas; Ethane; LPG; Naphtha; Motor gasoline; Aviation gasoline; Gasoline type jet fuel; Kerosene type jet fuel; Other kerosene; Gas / diesel oil; Fuel oil; Petroleum coke; Other oil products; Refinery output or production in case of crude oil Direct use Refineries (backflows and products transferred) Trade (imports / exports) Stocks *Oil and petroleum products - Annual statistics* For the sectors below with some of the following energy products: Crude oil; Natural Gas Liquids; Refinery feedstocks; Additives-oxygenates; Other hydrocarbons; Refinery gas; Ethane; LPG; Naphtha; Motor gasoline; Aviation gasoline; Gasoline type jet fuel; Kerosene type jet fuel; Other kerosene; Gas / diesel oil; Fuel oil; White spirit and SPB; Lubricants; Bitumen; Paraffin waxes; Petroleum coke; Other oil products; Transformation sector / Refinery Production Consumption: Energy sector Consumption: Industry Consumption: Transport Consumption: Residential Consumption: Other Trade (imports / exports) Stocks Infrastructure *Short Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources (SHARES)* *Households - Detailed annual statistics on final energy consumption*
Crude oil imports and prices	FPS Economy - DG Energy - Energy Monitoring & Electricity System	Data concerning imported crude oil by country and type of crude oil, such as volume, %S, API and price	*Crude oil imports register – Short term monthly statistics*
Refinery capacities	FPS Economy - DG Energy - Energy Monitoring & Electricity System	All variables needed to fill in the part on the refinery capacities of the annual oil questionnaire: Atmospheric distillation; Vacuum distillation; Cracking (thermal) – Visbreaking or Coking; Cracking (catalytic) – Fluid catalytic cracking or Hydro-cracking; Desulphurisation – Naphta, gasoline and other light distillated or Middle distillates or Heavy distillates; Reforming; Alkylation, Polymerisation, Isomeration; Etherification; Other upgrading units and Hydrogen production	*Oil and petroleum products - Annual statistics* Table 6 – Refinery capacities
Biobalance	FPS Economy - DG Energy – Oil & Fapetro	Quantities of fossil and biofuels (blended or not) used in transport (gasoline, bioethanol, methanol, MTBE, ETBE, road diesel, HVO and FAME) + category of biofuel + stock change of aforementioned fossil and biofuels (blended or not)	*Oil and petroleum products - Monthly statistics* For the sectors below with some of the following energy products: Motor gasoline; Gas / diesel oil; Direct use Refineries (backflows and products transferred) *Oil and petroleum products - Annual statistics* For the sector below: Consumption: Transport *Renewables and wastes - Annual statistics* For the sector below: Consumption: Transport *SHARES* Consumption: Transport Classification per category of biofuel
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks	FPS Economy - DG Energy - Oil & Fapetro	Tickets held for other countries: quantity, type of product, duration of contract	*Oil and petroleum products - Monthly statistics* For the sector below with some of the following energy products: Crude oil; Natural Gas Liquids; Refinery feedstocks; Additives-oxygenates; Other hydrocarbons; Refinery gas; Ethane; LPG; Naphtha; Motor gasoline; Aviation gasoline; Gasoline type jet fuel; Kerosene type jet fuel; Other kerosene; Gas / diesel oil; Fuel oil; Petroleum coke; Other oil products; Stocks
Monthly electricity data collection	FPS Economy - DG Energy - Energy Monitoring & Electricity System	Monthly gross and net electricity production per type of input source Monthly imports and exports of electricity Monthly demand peak of electricity	*Electricity - Monthly statistics* For the sectors below with some of the following energy products: Electricity; Hydro power; Geothermal power; Wind power; Conventional thermal; Nuclear; Generation Trade (imports / exports) *Electricity and heat - Annual statistics* For the sectors below with some of the following energy products: Nuclear; Hydro; Geothermal; Solar; Tide, wave and ocean; Wind; Combustible fuels; Heat from chemical sources; Other; Nuclear Heat; Geothermal heat; Solar heat; Combustible fuels heat; Heat pumps; Electric boilers heat; Heat from chemical sources heat; Other heat; Production Trade (imports / exports) Peak demand *Nuclear - Annual statistics* For the sector below: Production of nuclear heat *Renewables and wastes - Annual statistics* For the sector below and the following energy products: Offshore wind; Pumped Hydro; Production
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	FPS Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment	Indigenous production and trade of liquid biofuels	*Renewables and wastes - Annual statistics* For the sectors below and the following energy products: Biogasoline; Bioethanol; Biodiesel; Production Trade (imports / exports)
Annual data collection nuclear industry	FPS Economy - DG Energy - Nuclear applications	Production and capacity of fresh fuel and MOX fuel elements	*Nuclear - Annual statistics* For the sectors below: Production and production capacity of MOX Annual average burnup of definitively discharged irradiated elements
Monthly coal questionnaire	FPS Economy - DG Energy - Energy Monitoring & Electricity System	Stocks, imports per country, exports per country, deliveries to final consumers per sector and to transformation for each coal product except gases	*Solid fuels - Monthly statistics* For the sectors below with some of the following energy products: Hard coal; Lignite; Coke; Patent fuels; BKB; Deliveries Production Trade (imports / exports) Stocks *Solid fuels and manufactured gases - Annual statistics* For the sectors below with some of the following energy products: Anthracite; Coking Coal; Other bituminous coal; Sub-bituminous coal; Lignite; Patent fuel; Coke oven Coke; BKB, coal tar; Transformation sector Production Consumption: Energy sector Consumption: Industry Consumption: Transport Consumption: Residential Consumption: Other Trade (imports / exports) Stocks Infrastructure Calorific values *SHARES* *Households - Detailed annual statistics on final energy consumption*
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	FPS Economy - DG Energy - Energy Monitoring & Electricity System	Stocks, imports per country, exports per country, deliveries to final consumers per sector and to transformation for gases	*Solid fuels - Annual statistics* For the sectors below with some of the following energy products:; Coke oven Gas; Blast furnace gas; Other recovered gases; Transformation sector Production Consumption: Energy sector Consumption: Industry Consumption: Transport Consumption: Residential Consumption: Other Trade (imports / exports) Stocks Infrastructure Calorific values *SHARES*
Monthly gas data collection	FPS Economy - DG Energy - Energy Monitoring & Electricity System	Production / receipts from other sources, entry / exit (gaseous gas and LNG), stocks (gaseous gas and LNG), inland consumption (total and classified as "large industries directly linked to the transport net", "electricity plants directly linked to the transport net” and "deliveries to the distribution net")	Natural gas - Monthly statistics / Natural gas - Short-term monthly statistics For the sectors below and the following energy product: Natural gas; Production Receipts from other sources Trade (imports / exports) Stocks Deliveries *Natural gas - Annual statistics* For the sectors below and the following energy product: Natural gas; Production Receipts from other sources Trade (imports / exports) Stocks Calorific values
Annual fuel data collection for transport	FPS Economy - DG Energy - Energy Monitoring & Electricity System	Sales of gas (LNG and CNG) and petroleum products (gasoline, diesel and LPG) in public stations (stations accessible to public) and distribution of gas in some private stations	*Natural gas - Monthly statistics* Additional data source for the sector below: Trade (imports / exports) *Natural gas - Annual statistics* Data source for the sector below: Consumption: Transport *SHARES*
Energy data collection at regional institutions	FPS Economy - DG Energy - Energy Monitoring & Electricity System	Yearly electricity production per type of source, yearly consumption per sector, capacities Yearly production, import, export and sectoral consumption of renewable energy and waste Yearly gas consumption per sector, yearly off-grid LNG consumption (excl. for transport) Yearly production of nuclear heat	*Electricity and heat - Annual statistics* For the sectors below with some of the following energy products: Nuclear; Hydro; Geothermal; Solar; Tide, wave and ocean; Wind; Combustible fuels; Heat from chemical sources; Other; Nuclear Heat; Geothermal heat; Solar heat; Combustible fuels heat; Heat pumps; Electric boilers heat; Heat from chemical sources heat; Other heat; Production Transformation sector Consumption: Energy sector Consumption: Industry Consumption: Transport Consumption: Residential Consumption: Other Trade (imports / exports) Infrastructure Calorific values *Natural gas - Annual statistics* For the sectors below and the following energy product: Natural gas; Transformation sector Consumption: Energy sector Consumption: Transport Consumption: Industry Consumption: Other Non-energy use *Renewables and wastes - Annual statistics* For the sectors below with some of the following energy products: Hydro power; Wind power; Geothermal; Solar thermal; Solar photovoltaic; Tide, wave and ocean; Solid biofuels; Liquid biofuels; Biogases; Municipal waste; Industrial waste; Production Transformation sector Consumption: Energy sector Consumption: Industry Consumption: Transport Consumption: Residential Consumption: Other Trade (imports / exports) Stocks Infrastructure Calorific values *Nuclear - Annual statistics* For the sector below: Production of nuclear heat *SHARES* Information regarding heat pumps *Households - Detailed annual statistics on final energy consumption*
Annual gas administrative data collection	FPS Economy - DG Energy - Energy Monitoring & Electricity System	Yearly LNG import, export and bunkering data Yearly gas imports through direct connections Yearly gas consumption of liquefaction (LNG) / regasification plants Yearly losses and pipeline transport data	*Natural gas - Monthly statistics* For the sectors below and the following energy product: Natural gas; Bunkering Trade (imports / exports) Own use and losses *Natural gas - Annual statistics* For the sectors below and the following energy product: Natural gas; Bunkering Trade (imports / exports) Consumption: Energy Distribution losses Consumption: Transport Infrastructure
Bi-annual households data collection	FPS Economy - Statbel	Energy-related questions in the “Household Budget Survey”	*Households - Detailed annual statistics on final energy consumption* For all end-uses and all energy products

3.2. Classification system

See 3.2.1.

3.2.1. Classification system – industry sector, products and geographical

Name of the national data collection	Industry sector	Products	Geographical
Monthly oil questionnaire	NACE rev. 2 (EU classification of economic activities)	CPA (Classification of Products by Activity in the EU)	NUTS (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics)
Crude oil imports and prices	Not available	Not available	NUTS (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics)
Refinery capacities	Not available	Not available	NUTS (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics)
Biobalance	Not available	CN codes (Combined Nomenclature, EU)	NUTS (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics)
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks	Not available	Not available	NUTS (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics)
Monthly electricity data collection	Not applicable	Classification in Regulation (EC) 1099/2008 on energy statistics	NUTS (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics)
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	Not applicable	Classification in Regulation (EC) 1099/2008 on energy statistics	NUTS (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics)
Annual data collection nuclear industry	Not available	Not available	NUTS (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics)
Monthly coal questionnaire	NACE rev. 2 (EU classification of economic activities)	Classification in Regulation (EC) 1099/2008 on energy statistics + a sub-division in different cokes (coke-oven-coke, coke of brown coal and other coke)	NUTS (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics)
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	NACE rev. 2 (EU classification of economic activities)	Classification in Regulation (EC) 1099/2008 on energy statistics	NUTS (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics)
Monthly gas data collection	Not applicable	Classification in Regulation (EC) 1099/2008 on energy statistics	NUTS (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics)
Annual fuel data collection for transport	Not applicable	Gas (LNG and CNG) and petroleum products (gasoline, diesel and LPG)	NUTS (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics)
Energy data collection at regional institutions	NACE rev. 2 (EU classification of economic activities)	Classification in Regulation (EC) 1099/2008 on energy statistics	NUTS (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics)
Annual gas administrative data collection	NACE rev. 2 (EU classification of economic activities)	Classification in Regulation (EC) 1099/2008 on energy statistics	NUTS (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics)
Bi-annual households data collection	Not available	Classification in Regulation (EC) 1099/2008 on energy statistics	NUTS (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics)

3.3. Coverage - sector

Energy statistics cover all sectors of the economy that are involved in the production, transformation, trade or consumption of energy (energy sector, industry sector, transport sector, commercial and public services, households, agriculture and forestry, fishing).

3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions

Definitions of Regulation (EC) No 1099/2008 on energy statistics apply.

3.5. Statistical unit

See 3.5.1.

3.5.1. Statistical unit – Data collections

Name of the national data collection	Reporting unit
Monthly oil questionnaire	Enterprise
Crude oil imports and prices	Enterprise
Refinery capacities	Enterprise
Biobalance	Enterprise
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks	Enterprise
Monthly electricity data collection	Enterprise
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	Enterprise
Annual data collection nuclear industry	Enterprise
Monthly coal questionnaire	Enterprise
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	Enterprise
Monthly gas data collection	Enterprise NB: measurement made by the TSO
Annual fuel data collection for transport	Enterprise
Energy data collection at regional institutions	Regional governmental institution
Annual gas administrative data collection	Enterprise
Bi-annual households data collection	Household

3.6. Statistical population

All enterprises and households that are involved in the production, transformation, trade or consumption of energy in Belgium

3.7. Reference area

Belgium

3.8. Coverage - Time

See 3.8.1.

3.8.1. Coverage time – Data collections

Name of the national data collection	Coverage time
Monthly oil questionnaire	2008 -
Crude oil imports and prices	2005 -
Refinery capacities	2012 -
Biobalance	2014 -
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks	2012 -
Monthly electricity data collection	2008 -
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	2014 -
Annual data collection nuclear industry	2009 -
Monthly coal questionnaire	2003 -
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	1990 -
Monthly gas data collection	2008 -
Annual fuel data collection for transport	2012 -
Energy data collection at regional institutions	2008 - (with regards to the data on the first energy vector for which the collection was possible; data on other vectors were progressively collected later)
Annual gas administrative data collection	LNG bunkering: 2013 - Imports through direct connections: 2010 - Liquefaction (LNG) / regasification plants: 2004 - Losses and pipeline transport data: 2004 -
Bi-annual households data collection	2016 -

3.9. Base period

Not applicable

4. Unit of measure

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See 4.1.

4.1. Unit of measure – data collections

Name of the national data collection	Unit of measurement
Monthly oil questionnaire	Tonnes
Crude oil imports and prices	barrel $ API
Refinery capacities	kt / year
Biobalance	m³ (s)
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks	Tonnes
Monthly electricity data collection	MWh, GWh, TWh
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	Tonnes
Annual data collection nuclear industry	tSWU tHM, tHM / year ktoe GWd / tHM
Monthly coal questionnaire	kt
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	kt MJ, GJ, TJ
Monthly gas data collection	kWh m³ (n)
Annual fuel data collection for transport	kg, tonnes
Energy data collection at regional institutions	kt MJ, GJ, TJ MWh, GWh, TWh kW, MW, GW
Annual gas administrative data collection	kWh tonnes, kt GJ m³ (n)
Bi-annual households data collection	Households (weighted)

5. Reference Period

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See 5.1.

5.1. Reference period – data collections

Name of the national data collection	Reference period
Monthly oil questionnaire	1 month
Crude oil imports and prices	1 month
Refinery capacities	1 year
Biobalance	3 months
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks	Not available
Monthly electricity data collection	1 month
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	1 year
Annual data collection nuclear industry	1 year
Monthly coal questionnaire	1 month
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	1 year
Monthly gas data collection	1 month
Annual gas data collection for transport	1 year
Energy data collection at regional institutions	1 year
Annual fuel administrative data collection	1 year
Bi-annual households data collection	1 year

6. Institutional Mandate

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6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements

See 6.1.1.

6.1.1. National legal acts and other agreements

Name of the national data collection	National legal framework	Reference of national legal text
Monthly oil questionnaire	Mandatory (included in a national legal act)	Royal Decree #2017040874
Crude oil imports and prices	Mandatory (included in a national legal act)	Royal Decree #1977042502 Ministerial Decree #1980061310
Refinery capacities	Mandatory (included in a national legal act)	Royal Decree #2017040874
Biobalance	Mandatory (included in a national legal act)	Law #2013011348 Royal Decree #2017040874
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks	Mandatory (included in a national legal act)	Law #2006011055
Monthly electricity data collection	Mandatory (included in a national legal act)	Royal Decree #2019010655
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	Mandatory (included in a national legal act)	Royal Decree #2017040874
Annual data collection nuclear industry	Voluntary data collection
Monthly coal questionnaire	Mandatory (included in a national legal act)	Royal Decree #2018031839
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	Mandatory (included in a national legal act)	Royal Decree #2018031839
Monthly gas data collection	Mandatory (included in a national legal act)	Royal Decree #2019010655
Annual fuel data collection for transport	Mandatory (included in a national legal act)	Royal Decree #2017040874
Energy data collection at regional institutions	Voluntary data collection
Annual gas administrative data collection	Voluntary data collection
Bi-annual households data collection	Voluntary data collection

6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing

See 6.2.1.

6.2.1. Institutional mandate – data sharing – national data collections

Name of the national data collection	Situation, if more than 1 body is involved in this data collection	Degree of integration of this data collection among different National bodies
Monthly oil questionnaire	Not applicable	Not applicable
Crude oil imports and prices	Not applicable	Not applicable
Refinery capacities	Not applicable	Not applicable
Biobalance	Not applicable	Not applicable
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks	Not applicable	Not applicable
Monthly electricity data collection	Coordination based on practice (no written procedure)	Alignment even though the same questionnaires / classifications are not used
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	Coordination based on practice (no written procedure)	Alignment even though the same questionnaires / classifications are not used
Annual data collection nuclear industry	Not applicable	Not applicable
Monthly coal questionnaire	Not applicable	Not applicable
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	Not applicable	Not applicable
Monthly gas data collection	Not applicable	Not applicable
Annual fuel data collection for transport	Not applicable	Not applicable
Energy data collection at regional institutions	Coordination based on practice (no written procedure)	The same questionnaire is used by all authorities.
Annual gas administrative data collection	Not applicable	Not applicable
Bi-annual households data collection	Coordination defined in Memorandum of Understanding or gentleman's agreement	Alignment even though the same questionnaires / classifications are not used

7. Confidentiality

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Annexes:
Confidentiality in EU data collections - Belgium

7.1. Confidentiality - policy

Confidentiality is guaranteed in law, in Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recitals 23-27, 31-32 and Articles 20-26) and in Law of 29 April 1999 on the organisation of the electricity market (Article 29octies, § 2, where penalties are prescribed for any wilful breaches of confidentiality).

Staff members with a university degree are granted a security clearance by the Belgian government, in accordance with the Law of 11 December 1998 relative to the classification and the security clearances, at the level “national secret / EU secret”.

Guidelines and instructions are provided to staff on the protection of confidentiality throughout the statistical processes. The confidentiality policy is made known to the public. Some of the questionnaires made available to the respondents include the text (translated from FR / NL): “Registrants are assured that the information submitted will be treated as confidential and will be used for statistical purposes only”.

The necessary regulatory, administrative, technical and organisational measures are in place to protect the security and integrity of data and their transmission, in accordance with best practices, international standards, as well as European and national legislation. The computer network of the FPS Economy is equipped with the best available protection systems (antivirus, firewall, VPN…). Only the persons dealing with a set of data are allowed to access the location where this set of data is stored. Data files stored in a more widely-accessible location or shared by email between authorised persons are protected with a password.

7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

Aggregate outputs

A cell is considered as confidential, if fewer than three entities contribute to the total of that cell or if one dominant entity contributes to the total of that cell, and if the entities concerned did not confirm that their data are not confidential.

Checks are made to prevent confidential data from being derived from other data in the same statistic or in other statistics.

The most common approach to avoid disclosure of confidential data is to aggregate the confidential cell with the nearest suitable non-confidential cell.

Micro-level outputs

External users are not allowed to access microdata for research purposes since it is not possible to anonymise the data (the number of market players is insufficient).

7.2.1. Confidentiality – EU data collections

EU data collection	Confidential data points
Crude oil imports register – Short term monthly statistics	Yes
Oil and petroleum products – Short term monthly statistics	No
Natural gas - Short term monthly statistics	No
Solid fuels - Monthly statistics	No
Electricity - Monthly statistics	No
Oil and petroleum products - Monthly statistics	No
Natural gas - Monthly statistics	No
Nuclear - Annual statistics	No
Electricity and heat - Annual statistics	No
Natural gas - Annual statistics	Yes
Oil and petroleum products - Annual statistics	Yes
Renewables and wastes - Annual statistics	No
Solid fossil fuels and manufactured gases - Annual statistics	Yes
Short Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources (SHARES)	No
Households - Detailed annual statistics on final energy consumption	No

8. Release policy

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8.1. Release calendar

There is no release calendar.

8.2. Release calendar access

Not applicable

8.3. Release policy - user access

The vast majority of data compiled within DG Energy are those required by Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics or by a gentlemen’s agreement signed with the IEA.

Consolidated data are first sent to Eurostat and / or the IEA and then sent to anyone who requests it, without preference or distinction. Aggregated data are published on the national websites (https://economie.fgov.be/fr/themes/energie/lenergie-en-chiffres and https://statbel.fgov.be/fr/themes/energie) and in brochures as soon as possible after their sending to the international bodies.

No press conference is held when data are released, but announcements are made on the FPS Economy website and in the FPS Economy newsletter.

9. Frequency of dissemination

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See 9.1.

9.1. Frequency of dissemination – national data collections

Name of the national data collection	Frequency of dissemination
Monthly oil questionnaire	Monthly Yearly
Crude oil imports and prices	Monthly
Refinery capacities	Yearly
Biobalance	Yearly
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks
Monthly electricity data collection	Monthly
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	Yearly
Annual data collection nuclear industry	Yearly
Monthly coal questionnaire	Yearly
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	Yearly
Monthly gas data collection
Annual fuel data collection for transport	Yearly
Energy data collection at regional institutions
Annual gas administrative data collection	Yearly
Bi-annual households data collection	Yearly

10. Accessibility and clarity

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10.1. Dissemination format - News release

No press conference is held when data are released, but announcements are made on the FPS Economy website and in the FPS Economy newsletter. Twice a year such announcements are made for the Energy key data brochure (February / March and July / August). The annoucements made on the FPS Economy website are found on https://economie.fgov.be/en/publications?f%5B0%5D=theme%3A13.

10.2. Dissemination format - Publications

Data are published either in digital brochures (key data) or on FPS Economy website pages (detailed analyses).

In the most detailed analyses (i.e. the analyses of the monthly consumption of the main petroleum products and of the monthly electricity production), dynamic graphics are used. These allow the user to download the data by simply pushing one button.

Custom-designed analyses are provided if possible. One of this type of analyses, titled "Overview of the oil market 2020", was very relevant information during the coronacrisis.

Detailed information on the publications are given in the table below.

Title	Publisher	Frequency / date of release	Link to online document	Number of subscriptions / purchases of paper document	Number of accesses to / downloads of online document*
Title	Publisher	Frequency / date of release	Link to online document	Number of subscriptions / purchases of paper document	Monthly average 06/21-05/22**	Month following the release
Monthly consumption of the main petroleum products	FPS Economy	Every month	https://economie.fgov.be/ fr/themes/energie/ lenergie-en-chiffres/ consommation-mensuelle-des	Not applicable (no subscription possible / free document; no printed version available)	294
Monthly electricity production	FPS Economy	Every month	https://economie.fgov.be/ fr/themes/energie/ lenergie-en-chiffres/production-mensuelle	Not applicable (no subscription possible / free document; no printed version available)	640
Energy key data	FPS Economy	Twice a year (February / March and July / August), last released on 18/02/22	https://economie.fgov.be/ en/publication/ energy-key-data-february-2022	Not applicable (no subscription possible / free document; only a few printed versions of the document are disseminated during events)	189
Analysis of household energy consumption in Belgium in 2017	FPS Economy	09/05/19	https://economie.fgov.be/ fr/publications/ analyse-de-la-consommation	Not applicable (no subscription possible / free document; no printed version available)		384
Analysis of household energy consumption in Belgium in 2020	FPS Economy	21/06/22	https://economie.fgov.be/ fr/publications/ analyse-de-la-consommation-0	Not applicable (no subscription possible / free document; no printed version available)
Overview of the oil market 2020	FPS Economy	30/04/21	https://economie.fgov.be/ fr/publications/ apercu-2020-du-marche	Not applicable (no subscription possible / free document; no printed version available)		958

*Total for all the available languages (FR, NL; "Energy key data": + EN).

**"Energy key data – February 2022": monthly average 02/22-05/22.

10.3. Dissemination format - online database

In addition to the digital brochures and the FPS Economy website pages as mentioned in point 10.2., data are available in an online database managed by Statbel, the Belgian national statistics institute. This database is accessible without registration and via a user friendly environment allowing manipulation and filtering of data. Two sets of data are offered, on two separate pages, one dealing with electricity production and the other with energy statistics by economic sector and by energy source. Both are presented in the table below.

Page title

Link

Number of accesses

(monthly average 07/21-05/22)*

Electricity production

https://statbel.fgov.be/
en/themes/energy/
electricity-production

265

Energy statistics by economic sector and by energy source

https://statbel.fgov.be/
en/themes/energy/
energy-statistics-economic-sector-and-energy-source

358

*Total for the four available languages (DE, EN, FR, NL).

10.3.1. Data tables - consultations

Not requested for this metadata collection

10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access

External users are not allowed to access microdata for research purposes since it is not possible to anonymise the data (the number of market players is insufficient).

10.5. Dissemination format - other

Data are regularly sent by email to a mailing list. Registration on the list is made on request.

10.5.1. Metadata - consultations

Not requested for this metadata collection

10.6. Documentation on methodology

Metadata on statistical products, surveys and administrative sources are continuously developped and are published with the data as far as possible. Methodological notes as well as guidelines for completing questionnaires are also published when necessary.

Published metadata, methodological notes and guidelines for completing questionnaires are listed in the table below.

Title	Publisher	Year	Link to online version
Metadata
Monthly balance for electricity	FPS Economy	2020	https://statbel.fgov.be/ sites/default/files/files/metadata/ T7.STAT_DTST_1138.CTAC_ORG_1.DIFF_LVL_1.FR.pdf
Yearly balances for electricity and heat	FPS Economy	2019	https://statbel.fgov.be/ sites/default/files/files/metadata/ T38.STAT_DTST_724.CTAC_ORG_1.DIFF_LVL_1.EN.pdf
Yearly balance for natural gas	FPS Economy	2019	https://statbel.fgov.be/ sites/default/files/files/metadata/ T38.STAT_DTST_121.CTAC_ORG_1.DIFF_LVL_1.EN.pdf
Yearly balance for crude oil and oil products	FPS Economy	2019	https://statbel.fgov.be/ sites/default/files/files/metadata/ T38.STAT_DTST_122.CTAC_ORG_1.DIFF_LVL_1.EN.pdf
Yearly balance for renewable and waste fuels	FPS Economy	2019	https://statbel.fgov.be/ sites/default/files/files/metadata/ T38.STAT_DTST_1101.CTAC_ORG_1.DIFF_LVL_1.EN.pdf
Yearly balance for solid fossil fuels and manufactured gases	FPS Economy	2019	https://statbel.fgov.be/ sites/default/files/files/metadata/ T38.STAT_DTST_1077.CTAC_ORG_1.DIFF_LVL_1.EN.pdf
Global energy balance	FPS Economy	2019	https://statbel.fgov.be/ sites/default/files/files/metadata/ T38.STAT_DTST_221.CTAC_ORG_1.DIFF_LVL_1.EN.pdf
Methodological notes
International gas trade in Belgium - Determining the origin and destination of imports and exports, and eliminating transit from annual data	FPS Economy	2021	https://economie.fgov.be/ en/publication/ international-gas-trade
Guidelines for completing questionnaires
Monthly questionnaire on solid fossil fuels - Methodological help for filling	FPS Economy	2020	https://economie.fgov.be/ sites/default/files/Files/Forms/ Questionnaire-mensuel-concernant-les-combustibles-fossiles-solides-note-methodologique.pdf
Monthly oil questionnaire	FPS Economy	2017	https://economie.fgov.be/ sites/default/files/Files/Forms/ Form-Monthly-petroleum-balance-biobalance.xlsm
Annual oil questionnaire	FPS Economy	2017	https://economie.fgov.be/ sites/default/files/Files/Forms/ Aangifteformulier-jaarlijkse-petroleumbalans.xlsm
Oil refinery capacities	FPS Economy	2018	https://economie.fgov.be/ sites/default/files/Files/Forms/ Formulier-refinery-capacities.xlsm
Annual data on the regionalisation of petroleum products sales by public stations - Help for filling the questionnaire	FPS Economy	2022	https://economie.fgov.be/ sites/default/files/Files/Energy/ Annexe-methodologique-questionnaire-regionalisation-vente-produits-petroliers-pompes-publiques.pdf

10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate

Not requested for this metadata collection

10.7. Quality management - documentation

Report on Belgium in the framework of the European Statistical System peer review round 2021-2023 (see 11.1.), available on Eurostat website (https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/quality/peer-reviews/current-round)

11. Quality management

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11.1. Quality assurance

No quality management system as such has been implemented yet. Nevertheless, statistical activities follow European and other international standards, guidelines, and good practices (especially the provisions of the "European Statistics Code of Practice", of the "Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System" and of the "European Statistical System handbook for quality and metadata reports"). Procedures are in place to ensure that standard concepts, definitions, classifications and other types of standards are consistently applied throughout the "Energy Monitoring" cell. Data analysts design data treatments on the basis of the standards, describe them in internal documents and submit them to an internal validation committee. This committee also verifies the implementation of the treatments and their results (see 18.4.).

The cell implements a policy of continuous vocational training for its staff. When entering into service, new staff members are invited to watch IEA webinars and / or to attend IEA or European Statistical Training Programme (ESTP) in-person training on energy statistics. All staff members regularly follow internal and external courses, notably those of the ESTP and of the training institute of the Belgian Federal Public Service (FPS) Policy and Support. They also follow relevant webinars and attend various conferences or seminars produced / organised by international institutions, energy sector operators…

In order to harmonise regional and federal data, a working group called "CONCERE-ENOVER Energy balances" was set up (see 15.1.).

Data quality is continuously assessed by the data analysts and by the internal validation committee. The quality of administrative and other data sources is regularly verified and actions are taken if it is unsatisfactory (e.g. changing the source). Moreover, in the framework of the European Statistical System peer review round 2021-2023, an exercise involving the "Energy Monitoring" cell took place at the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022. This exercise comprised four stages: the filling of a self-assessment questionnaire, the participation in an interview with European peer reviewers, the approval of a report with recommendations compiled by the peer reviewers and the drafting of improvement actions. The report and the improvement actions can be found on the Eurostat website (https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/quality/peer-reviews/current-round).

The cell plans to:

regularly rework and validate the different data treatments;
increase the cooperation with the Belgian regions by giving a more formal basis to the CONCERE-ENOVER Energy balances working group.

11.2. Quality management - assessment

See 11.2.1.

11.2.1. Quality assessment – data collections

Name of the national data collection	Most important quality problem of this data collection	Measures taken in the last 5 years to improve quality of the data collection
Monthly oil questionnaire	Timeliness can be improved. For the “Oil and petroleum products – Short term monthly statistics” EU data collection (JODI) a large amount of estimates are made due to missing declarations from enterprises. This data collection focuses on enterprises high up in the supply chain. They often don't have detailed information available on sectoral final consumption as they don't know where the product will eventually be consumed.	New intern work document - to keep up more easily with time series evolutions Better cooperation with colleagues More contact with enterprises Actively identifying new enterprises
Crude oil imports and prices	Timeliness, and comparability with the monthly oil questionnaire can be improved.	Active verification with the reported imports in the monthly oil questionnaire
Refinery capacities	Not available	Not available
Biobalance	Cross checks of fossil and biofuels are performed with different data sources (fossil fuels: FPS Finance; biofuels: FPS Environment). When differences arise, it's not clear why and which is correct.	New template for this data collection since 2014 Better cooperation with colleagues More contact with enterprises
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks	Not available	Not available
Monthly electricity data collection	Large amount of reporting enterprises, so there are problems with timeliness. Some producers are also missing from the listing.	New intern work document - to keep up more easily with time series evolutions Better cooperation with regional government Actively identifying new enterprises Yearly comparison with the annual figures coming from our regional authorities. These comparisons have led to new methodological improvements for several estimates, that have been implemented after validation by the validation committee.
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	Since the data are not directly collected from the producers of biofuels, the coherence regarding the definitions used by the reporting enterprises cannot be checked.	Attempt to reinforce the cooperation with the responsible authority but they lack resources to improve the controls Plan to collect directly some data from the (few) biofuels producers of the country
Annual data collection nuclear industry	Not available	Not available
Monthly coal questionnaire	This data collection focuses on enterprises high up in the supply chain. They sometimes don't have (or don't provide) detailed information on sectoral final consumption. Cross validation of data between supplier and consumer is tedious and time-consuming. Some importing enterprises (which have only a desk office in Belgium but are based in other countries) are still missing. These enterprises often sell the products to intermediates. As a consequence the amount of coal products is correct but data on imports are incomplete. This causes difficulties for the elimination of transit.	New questionnaire with classification of products that is coherent with the classification of the regulation New intern work document - to keep up more easily with time series evolutions Actively identifying new enterprises Work with large exporting enterprises in order to limit transit Cross-analysis between declarants
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	This collection has a problem of confidentiality and is made on a voluntary basis. The Belgian legislation has to be adapted in order to make this collection mandatory.	Maintaining good relations and contacts with companies
Monthly gas data collection	Monthly data on real imports / exports are not available (only data on entry / exit are). Data on imports / exports to France and the Netherlands are aggregated for the “Natural gas - Short term monthly statistics” EU data collection, due to the use of virtual interconnection points by the TSO. These data are disaggregated in the “Natural gas - Monthly statistics” EU data collection. All the data concerning electricity auto-producers are not available for monthly data. The reported deliveries are solely to main producers, directly connected to the transmission grid. Monthly data concerning the imports of gas from direct connections, off-grid consumption (including LNG for transport), LNG bunkering, and own use and losses are not available, therefore these are estimated based on the annual data of previous years.	Collaboration with the TSO and other data providers: this collaboration has allowed access to more detailed data. This enables to disaggregate further data on imports / exports to France and the Netherlands, and establish provenance and destination for LNG imports / exports.
Annual fuel data collection for transport	Only limited data concerning companies that have private pumps for gas (CNG and LNG) at present are available. However they should not be numerous. This consumption is estimated.	CNG / LNG: administrative data replaced by internal business survey without threshold from 2019 Active monitoring of public pump openings and updating of business listing Digitisation of business survey
Energy data collection at regional institutions	Not available	Better cooperation between regions and federal level - regular working group meetings (CONCERE-ENOVER Energy balances working group) Harmonized definitions, classifications and methodology Regular revisions
Annual gas administrative data collection	Data concerning the imports of gas from direct connections, off-grid consumption (including LNG for transport), LNG bunkering, and own use and losses are only available on a yearly basis, but are needed for monthly reporting.	New methodology: a new methodology was developed to provide monthly estimations for these uses, whereas previously only TSO data were used, which led to a gap of around 3%. These estimations aim to provide a more complete figure of monthly consumption. The new methodology was applied starting January 2021, with a revision of the 2020 monthly data.
Bi-annual households data collection	A number of data points where incoherencies can occur have been identified. As the data are used for the modelisation of households data, incoherencies can have an impact on the results. The late deadline for receipt of data has also been an issue.	Internal data coherency checks Creation of a working group with Statbel to discuss the improvements to data quality (through automated checks for example) and to timeliness

12. Relevance

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12.1. Relevance - User Needs

The main users are Eurostat, the DG Energy of the European Commission, and the IEA. Other important users are Statbel and the recipients on the mailing list (see 10.5.). The Energy Monitoring cell also answers questions coming from a variety of users, like universities, medias, economic operators...

12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction

The need for new data concerning energy related matters is discussed in working groups in Eurostat (Energy statistics working group - ESWG) and / or in the IEA (Energy statistics development group - ESDG).

Satisfaction about the data supplied to Eurostat is regularly assessed by Eurostat and discussed in ESWG. Satisfaction about the data supplied to the IEA is monitored by the IEA through "report cards" consisting of an evaluation of timeliness, completeness, data quality and consistency on a semi-annual or annual basis, depending on the statistics. In both cases, satisfaction is generally very good or good according to the criterion and is continuously improving.

Needs and satisfaction of other users have not been investigated yet due to lack of human resources.

12.3. Completeness

See 12.3.1.1.

12.3.1. Data completeness - rate

See 12.3.1.1.

12.3.1.1. Data completeness - rate – EU data collections

EU data collection	Data completeness - rate	Number of missing data points
Crude oil imports register – Short term monthly statistics	100%
Oil and petroleum products – Short term monthly statistics	100%
Natural gas - Short term monthly statistics	100%
Solid fuels - Monthly statistics	100%
Electricity - Monthly statistics	100%
Oil and petroleum products - Monthly statistics	100%
Natural gas - Monthly statistics	100%
Nuclear - Annual statistics	100%
Electricity and heat - Annual statistics	100%
Natural gas - Annual statistics	100%
Oil and petroleum products - Annual statistics	95%
Renewables and wastes - Annual statistics	99%	5
Solid fossil fuels and manufactured gases - Annual statistics	100%
SHort Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources (SHARES)	100%
Households - Detailed annual statistics on final energy consumption	94%	2

13. Accuracy

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Annexes:
Accuracy indicators - Energy quantities - 2020 - Belgium

13.1. Accuracy - overall

Measurement errors, classification errors and non-response errors are the most common errors encountered in national data collections.

In order to remedy these errors, questions are asked to respondents or to holders of administrative data. Any non-negligible error is corrected (revised data are sent to Eurostat / the IEA with an explanation of the causes of the revision).

13.1.1. Accuracy – most common errors for specific data collections

Name of the national data collection	Most common errors for this collection
Monthly oil questionnaire	Measurement errors Classification errors Non-response errors
Crude oil imports and prices	Measurement errors
Refinery capacities	Not available
Biobalance	Measurement errors
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks	Not available
Monthly electricity data collection	Measurement errors Classification errors Non-response errors
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	Measurement errors
Annual data collection nuclear industry	Not available
Monthly coal questionnaire	Measurement errors Classification errors
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	Measurement errors
Monthly gas data collection	Measurement errors
Annual fuel data collection for transport	Measurement errors Non-response errors
Energy data collection at regional institutions	Classification errors
Annual gas administrative data collection	Measurement errors
Bi-annual households data collection	Processing errors Classification errors

13.2. Sampling error

The only national data collection where sampling error was relevant in 2020 is the "Bi-annual households data collection", which is based on the "Household Budget Survey" (see 3.1.1. and 18.1.1.). Sampling error usually occurs in the "Annual fuel data collection for transport" (see 3.1.1. and 18.1.1), but not in 2020, where the survey was exhaustive.

For the most important energy variable of the "Household Budget Survey", i.e. "Energy source for water heating - Natural gas", the 2020 sampling error is calculated as follows:

	Estimated value (number of households)	Standard error	Coefficient of variation
Belgium	2270048	35394	1.56%
Brussels	302825	11516	3.80%
Flanders	1476401	27197	1.84%
Wallonia	490822	19506	3.97%

13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators

Not requested for this metadata collection

13.3. Non-sampling error

See sub-concepts

13.3.1. Coverage error

Coverage problems may occur. Potential problems are monitored on a regular basis. The lists of enterprises used for surveys are constantly updated based on (non-)responses, on the feedback from respondents and on information gathered using various sources (media...). A search is carried out each time a variable is suspected of being undervalued.

13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate

See annex

13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion

See annex

13.3.2. Measurement error

See annex

13.3.3. Non response error

A policy of proactive measures, based on mail and phone reminders, is in place to improve response rates. In some cases, besides mail and phone reminders, detailed information on the survey (information on the statistics to which the survey pertains, the objective and context of the survey, the rationale for the questions, possible sanctions, information on results…) is given to the respondents. For example, in January 2020, respondents to a survey on coal products were invited to a meeting where they were informed of the modifications made to the survey following a change in the law.

13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate

See annex

13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate

See annex

13.3.4. Processing error

Most of the processing is done by hand. Since human errors are highly probable, checks are made at each stage of processing.

The automated parts of the processing have been working for years without causing faulty output.

13.3.5. Model assumption error

The data provided in the "Households - Detailed annual statistics on final energy consumption" EU data collection are obtained on the basis of a model partly fed with data from the "Household Budget Survey" (see 3.1.1. and 18.5.2.). Due to the nature of the latter (survey), errors and incoherencies can occur, and these in turn may have an impact on the results of the model. A preliminary manual validation of the data is done before entry into the model, to ensure the internal coherency of responses. In addition, variable variance can also have an impact on the results of the model, particularly when it comes to small energy vectors. In order to ensure coherent evolutions over time, some post-modelisation treatment of the results is carried out.

Data concerning the imports of gas from direct connections, off-grid consumption (including LNG for transport), LNG bunkering, and own use and losses are only available on a yearly basis. However these data are estimated on a monthly basis, based on the annual data of previous years (Annual gas administrative data collection; see 3.1.1. and 11.2.1.). While overall the quality of the estimated data is satisfactory, the results of the modelisation for sectors with limited historical data and rapidly-evolving trends, such as LNG for transport, leave some room for improvement. Therefore, once yearly data is available, this is compared to the estimated data, and the modelisation is revised where necessary.

14. Timeliness and punctuality

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14.1. Timeliness

Timeliness varies according to the national data collection depending on the way data are collected and processed. Some data are available almost instantly and can be released a few days after the event (e.g. "Monthly gas data collection": data are retrieved from an electronic data plateform and processed by the federal authorities; they are considered "final" 20 days after the event), while other data are available and can only be released several months after the event (e.g. "Energy data collection at regional institutions": data are collected, sometimes via surveys, and processed by regional authorities, before being processed by the federal authorities; they should be sent to the federal authorities 9 months after the event, as mentioned in 14.1.3., but they are usually sent to them 10 months after the event).

Efforts to reduce the time lag without increasing the burden on respondents could focus on:

improving the exploitation process of data sources already in use;
using other sources whose data are more quickly accessible.

14.1.1. Time lag - first result

Not requested for this metadata collection

14.1.2. Time lag - final result

Not requested for this metadata collection

14.1.3. Timeliness – deadlines for data transmission for each national data collection

Name of the national data collection	Deadline for data transmission
Monthly oil questionnaire	20 days after the end of the reference period
Crude oil imports and prices	15 business days after the end of the reference period
Refinery capacities	30^th April of the year following the reference period
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks	1 month prior to the reference period
Biobalance	1 month after the end of the reference period
Monthly electricity data collection	25 days after the end of the reference period
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	The information can be retrieved in the internet portal at any time.
Annual data collection nuclear industry	6 months after the end of the reference period
Monthly coal questionnaire	20 days after the end of the reference period
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	When the information is requested (around April of the year following the reference period for the “Mini-questionnaire”)
Monthly gas data collection	The information can be retrieved in the internet portal at any time.
Annual fuel data collection for transport	30^th April of the year following the reference period
Energy data collection at regional institutions	9 months after the end of the reference period
Annual gas administrative data collection	When the information is requested (between February and April of the year following the reference period for the “Mini-questionnaire”)
Bi-annual households data collection	12 months after the end of the reference period when data are sent to Eurostat (every 5 years from 2005) 9 months after the end of the reference period when data are not sent to Eurostat

14.2. Punctuality

As there is no obligation to publish data at the national level, no release schedule has been established. Nevertheless it is planned to establish one in the near future.

14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication

Not requested for this metadata collection

15. Coherence and comparability

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15.1. Comparability - geographical

Problems of comparability between the energy data of the Belgian federated entities, i.e. the three regions and the federal state, arose in the eighties, after the regionalization of 1980, where some competencies in the field of energy were transferred from the federal state to the regions. These problems, which were a source of concern for the Belgian authorities as well as for the international instances (Eurostat, IEA, UNFCC), come mainly from differences between the classifications and definitions used by the four entities. Unlike the federal state, the regions do not necessarily use European classifications and definitions.

In order to solve these problems, a cooperation working group gathering representatives of the four entities was set up in 2003: CONCERE-ENOVER Energy balances. The work of CONCERE-ENOVER Energy balances led to the harmonisation of a large part of the data. Data on natural gas, electricity & heat, and renewable energy sources are now 90% comparable. Particular efforts are currently made to reconcile regional and federal data on oil and coal.

As far as classifications are concerned, correspondence tables were set up et are kept up-to-date between regional classifications and European classifications.

15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient

Not requested for this metadata collection

15.2. Comparability - over time

Data from annual collections are comparable from at least 2015 on. The majority of these data are comparable till 2010. A revision process is being carried out in order to make data comparable from 2000 or 2005 (this comparability is needed for some policy evaluation such as those aiming at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency).

Changes in the time series of EU data collections are detailed in the table below.

EU data collection	Changes	Date	Type of changes (some changes / break in series)	Probable impacts of the changes
Crude oil imports register – Short term monthly statistics	No
Oil and petroleum products – Short term monthly statistics	Yes	2014	Methodological changes to include biofuels Methodological changes to include petrochemical backflows	Limited impact
Natural gas - Short term monthly statistics	No
Solid fuels - Monthly statistics	Yes	January 2019	Adaptation of stocks from the report of January 2019 onwards, without historical revisions, which led to a series break in the stocks between December 2018 and January 2019	Limited impact
Electricity - Monthly statistics	Yes	January 2011	Change in definition: split of pure hydro and wind	Limited impact
Oil and petroleum products - Monthly statistics	Yes	2014	Break in series for stock levels Methodological changes to include biofuels Methodological changes to include petrochemical backflows	Limited impact
Natural gas – Monthly statistics	Yes	2020	Methodological changes to provide estimations for uses that are not included in the main gas network data	Reduction of the previous gap of around 3%
Nuclear – Annual statistics	No
Electricity and heat – Annual statistics	Yes	2004	Revisions to historical data to better match definitions and increase coherence with data from following years	Impact on sectoral consumption figures
Natural gas – Annual statistics	Yes	2004	Revisions to historical data to better match definitions and increase coherence with data from following years	Impact on sectoral consumption figures
Oil and petroleum products – Annual statistics	Yes	2014	Break in series for stock levels Methodological changes to include biofuels Methodological changes to include petrochemical backflows	For petrochemical backflows, important impact on sectoral consumption figures, starting 2009
Renewables and wastes - Annual statistics	Yes	2010	Methodological changes: from 2010 onwards, the majority of the data are directly coming from the regional authorities	Impact on sectoral consumption figures
Solid fossil fuels and manufactured gases - Annual statistics	Yes	2013	Change in coal classification	Important impact
Short Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources (SHARES)	No
Households - Detailed annual statistics on final energy consumption	No

15.2.1. Length of comparable time series

EU data collection	Length of comparable time series
Crude oil imports register – Short term monthly statistics	192
Oil and petroleum products – Short term monthly statistics	108
Natural gas - Short term monthly statistics	156
Solid fuels - Monthly statistics	196
Electricity - Monthly statistics	120
Oil and petroleum products - Monthly statistics	108
Natural gas - Monthly statistics	12
Nuclear - Annual statistics	12
Electricity and heat - Annual statistics	17
Natural gas - Annual statistics	17
Oil and petroleum products - Annual statistics	12
Renewables and wastes - Annual statistics	11
Solid fossil fuels and manufactured gases - Annual statistics	8
Short Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources (SHARES)	17
Households - Detailed annual statistics on final energy consumption	5

15.3. Coherence - cross domain

Energy data are coherent with those obtained through other data sources or statistical domains. No issue of importance is to be mentioned.

15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics

EU data collection	Comparison		Reasons for lack of coherence, if any
EU data collection	With EU data collection	Coherence	Reasons for lack of coherence, if any
Crude oil imports register – Short term monthly statistics	Not applicable
Oil and petroleum products – Short term monthly statistics	Oil and petroleum products - Annual statistics	Yes (but less than in the case of the “Oil and petroleum products - Monthly statistics” EU data collection, because data are provisional)
Natural gas - Short term monthly statistics	Natural gas - Annual statistics	Yes
Solid fuels - Monthly statistics	Solid fossil fuels and manufactured gases - Annual statistics	Yes
Electricity - Monthly statistics	Electricity and Heat - Annual statistics	Yes
Oil and petroleum products - Monthly statistics	Oil and petroleum products - Annual statistics	Yes
Natural gas - Monthly statistics	Natural gas - Annual statistics	Yes
Nuclear - Annual statistics	Not applicable
Electricity and heat - Annual statistics	See “Electricity - Monthly statistics”
Natural gas - Annual statistics	See “Natural gas - Monthly statistics”
Oil and petroleum products - Annual statistics	See “Oil and petroleum products - Monthly statistics”
Renewables and wastes - Annual statistics	Not applicable
Solid fossil fuels and manufactured gases - Annual statistics	See “Solid fuels - Monthly statistics”
Short Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources (SHARES)	Not applicable
Households - Detailed annual statistics on final energy consumption	Not applicable

15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts

Two sets of data must be taken into consideration with regards to coherence between energy data and data of national accounts:

national accounts;
physical energy flow accounts (PEFA).

National accounts

National accounts and energy data sometimes distinguish different activity aggregates. Activity aggregates in national accounts are in line with NACE Rev. 2 aggregates (NACE A*64), while activity aggregates in energy statistics differ from NACE Rev. 2 aggregates, but are defined using NACE Rev. 2 classes since NACE Rev. 2 entry into force (e.g. the energy sector includes NACE Rev. 2 Divisions 05, 06, 19 and 35, NACE Rev. 2 Group 09.1 and NACE Rev. 2 classes 07.21 and 08.92; mining and quarrying includes NACE Rev. 2 Divisions 07 (excluding 07.21) and 08 (excluding 08.92) and NACE Rev. 2 Group 09.9). Problems arise when linking data from both sources in order to calculate indicators, e.g. the energy intensity of a sector: energy consumption (coming from energy statistics) / gross value added (coming from national accounts) of the sector. These problems may be solved by rearranging the data if detailed data are available.

PEFA

In addition to the difference in activity aggregates reported for national accounts, PEFA and energy data also show a difference relating to the residence principle. PEFA follow the residence principle (energy used by resident units on the territory of the economy concerned or abroad) whereas energy statistics follow more or less a territory principle (energy products sold / supplied in the territory of the reporting country to resident units and non-resident units). Consequently, PEFA compilation on the basis of energy statistics requires adjustments. Details about these adjustments can be found in Physical Energy Flow Accounts (PEFA), Manual 2014, draft version 15 May 2014 (https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/1798247/6191537/PEFA-Manual-2014-v20140515.pdf) and in Defining PEFA bridging items vis-a-vis to energy statistics, Final, 17 July 2019 (https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/1798247/6191537/Defining+PEFA+bridging+items+vis-a-vis+to+energy+statistics).

Another difference between PEFA and energy data, specific to Belgium, is linked to the problems of comparability between federal and regional data described in 15.1. This difference stems from the way each of the two data sets is compiled. Both are based on the regional energy balances, but to compile the PEFA, all regional energy balances are used, whether they are "harmonised" (natural gas, electricity & heat, and renewable energy sources) or not (oil and coal), while to compile energy data, only the "harmonised" regional energy balances are used, data relating to oil and coal being collected from other sources.

15.4. Coherence - internal

Coherence checks in each questionnaire are done internally and by Eurostat and the IEA. Coherence between data received from different sources is always verified.

For instance, the internal coherence of the "Monthly electricity data collection" is checked at producer level (production seems plausible in relation to installed capacities) and at country level (the evolution of the calculated monthly consumption is in line with the evolution of the injections into the transmission network). The data on consumption of petroleum products on road sent by oil companies via the "Monthly oil questionnaire" and validated with excises data are compared with the data from the "Annual fuel data collection for transport".

16. Cost and Burden

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Cost

As part of an analysis of the costs of European statistics (by product) in the ESS carried out by Eurostat in 2021, an assessment was made of the 2020 costs of:

the "Energy Monitoring" cell human ressources involved in the collection and the production of European energy statistics (3.88 FTE): 239848 euros;
the time dedicated by the survey investigators to the questions relating to energy in the "Household Budget Survey", that allow to fill in the "Households - Detailed annual statistics onfinal energy consumption" questionnaire: 10000 euros (see 3.1.1.).

In recent years, data collection efficiency has mainly been improved by developping online questionnaires for surveys.

Burden

In the majority of the surveys, the population is too small (less than 100 companies) to allow for sampling. However, sampling is done where possible and small companies with a limited weight in the sector / vector may benefit from a lighter response burden or even be excluded from the scope. For instance, the Royal Decree of 15 November 2017 on petroleum products declaration, providing for the "Monthly oil questionnaire", applies differently depending on whether the company sells annually more or less than 25000 tonnes. In the "Monthly coal questionnaire", small companies are asked to provide data only on an annual basis.

Administrative data are continuously searched for in order to minimise response burden. The following cases illustrate this policy:

open data of the Belgian gas transport system operator (TSO) are used for the "Natural gas - Monthly statistics" and most of the data of the supply part of the "Natural gas - Annual statistics" EU data collections;
regional institutions data are used for the "Electricity and heat - Annual statistics", for the "Renewables and wastes - Annual statistics", and for the consumption part of the "Natural gas - Annual statistics" EU data collections.

17. Data revision

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17.1. Data revision - policy

A revision policy was set up in accordance with European and international recommendations and best practices. It is published on the FPS Economy website (FR).

17.2. Data revision - practice

Regarding:

monthly oil questionnaire, biobalance, and monthly electricity data collection, revisions will occur when enterprises send new information;
monthly coal questionnaire, revisions will occur when enterprises send new information or if new enterprises acting in the sector are found;
annual derived coal products questionnaire, historical data are estimated based on previous years data and data from other sources (regional institutions), and revisions will occur if enterprises send new information or if new enterprises using or producing these products are found;
energy data collection at regional institutions, revisions will occur when the regional institutions send new information.

As already mentioned in 13.1., any non-negligible error is corrected and revised data are sent to Eurostat / the IEA with an explanation of the causes of the revision.

Major revisions (due to a change of methodology or the use of a new source of data) are notified in advance to Eurostat through revision pre-announcement forms.

17.2.1. Data revision - average size

Not requested for this metadata collection

18. Statistical processing

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18.1. Source data

See 18.1.1.

18.1.1. Source data – data collections

Name of the national data collection	Main data collection method	Target population	Population frame	Sample size
Monthly oil questionnaire	Business survey with threshold - 25000 tonnes	65	65	65
Crude oil imports and prices	Business survey without threshold	4	4	4
Refinery capacities	Business survey without threshold	4	4	4
Biobalance	Business survey without threshold	30	30	30
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks	Not available	Not available	Not available	Not available
Monthly electricity data collection	Business survey without threshold	All electricity producers in Belgium + TSO	TSO + Belgian electricity producers with a capacity > 1 MW + Belgian electricity producers with a capacity < 1 MW reporting to an administrative source	830
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	Online database	1	1	1
Annual data collection nuclear industry	Business survey without threshold	1	1	1
Monthly coal questionnaire	Business survey without threshold	30	30	30
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	Other sectoral survey (industry, agriculture, etc.): producers and users of coke derived gases	3	3	3
Monthly gas data collection	Internet portal of the TSO Direct data transfer from TSO Direct data transfer from producer	1 1 1	1 1 1	1 1 1
Annual fuel data collection for transport	Business survey without threshold: 1) All public stations 2) CNG / LNG stations	1) 3242 2) 173	1) 3242 2) 173	1) 3242 2) 173
Energy data collection at regional institutions	Use of administrative data (e.g. customs data or business registers): administrative data from business and households surveys	3	3	3
Annual gas administrative data collection	Use of administrative data (e.g. customs data or business registers): administrative data from port authorities, national regulator, national bank, interregional governmental institution, TSO	7	7	7
Bi-annual households data collection	Use of administrative data (e.g. customs data or business registers): administrative data from the ”Household Budget Survey”	All private households residing in Belgium	Private households in the National Register	Approx. 5000

18.2. Frequency of data collection

See 18.2.1.

18.2.1. Frequency of data collection – national data collections

Name of the national data collection	Frequency of transmission
Monthly oil questionnaire	Once per month
Crude oil imports and prices	Once per month
Refinery capacities	Once per year
Biobalance	Once every 3 months
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks	Once per month
Monthly electricity data collection	Once per month
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	Once per year
Annual data collection nuclear industry	Once per year
Monthly coal questionnaire	Once per month
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	Once per year
Monthly gas data collection	Once per month
Annual fuel data collection for transport	Once per year
Energy data collection at regional institutions	Once per year
Annual gas administrative data collection	Once per year
Bi-annual households data collection	Once every two years

18.3. Data collection

Survey data sources

Method(s) used to gather data from respondents are similar for all surveys.

Data are collected through questionnaires.

Questionnaires are systematically tested prior to the data collection, with the help of professional organisations of the sectors concerned.

Questionnaires are developed in MS-Excel and in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language).

MS-Excel questionnaires are sent to the respondents by mail (either postal mail or e-mail) and XBRL questionnaires are made available to them online prior to a notice by e-mail.

Respondents who haven’t yet filled in the questionnaire at different times near (before and after) the deadline receive mail and phone reminders.

Data are entered by the respondents. When they are entered in a MS-Excel questionnaire, they are either automatically transferred to a database or copied in a database by a data analyst or a technical assistant. When they are entered in a XBRL questionnaire, they are automatically stored into a database.

Links to the questionnaires are provided in the table below.

Administrative data sources

Acquisition processes and testing methods are described in the table below.

To ensure data quality questions on their methodologies are asked to holders of administrative data.

All sources

At the time of data entry, different checks are carried out:

verification of the internal consistency of the responses to the questionnaires;
comparison of the source data with historical data.

Questions are asked to the respondents / administrative data holders in case of visibly inaccurate data or big changes from one period to another.

Name of the national data collection	Data source	Survey data source Link to the questionnaire	Administrative data source Acquisition process and testing method
Monthly oil questionnaire	Business survey with threshold - 25000 tonnes	https://economie.fgov.be/sites/default/files/Files/Forms/Form-Monthly-petroleum-balance-biobalance.xlsm
Crude oil imports and prices	Business survey without threshold
Refinery capacities	Business survey without threshold	https://economie.fgov.be/sites/default/files/Files/Forms/Formulier-refinery-capacities.xlsm
Biobalance	Business survey without threshold	https://economie.fgov.be/sites/default/files/Files/Forms/Form-Monthly-petroleum-balance-biobalance.xlsm
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks	Not available
Monthly electricity data collection	Business survey without threshold Direct data transfer from TSO Use of administrative data	https://economie.fgov.be/sites/default/files/Files/Forms/Formulaire-Declaration-mensuelle-production-energetique.xlsx	Direct data transfer from TSO: Extraction and transfer by TSO Checks with open access data by energy data analyst Use of administrative data: Extraction and transfer by regional authority Time series and efficiencies checks by energy data analyst
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	Online database		Restricted access (an authorized login is needed) Extraction by energy data analyst Checks via internal templates by energy data analyst
Annual data collection nuclear industry	Business survey without threshold
Monthly coal questionnaire	Business survey without threshold	https://economie.fgov.be/sites/default/files/Files/Forms/Formulaire-questionnaire-mensuelle-combustibles-fossiles-solides.xlsm
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	Other sectoral survey (industry, agriculture, etc.): producers and users of coke derived gases
Monthly gas data collection	Internet portal of the TSO Direct data transfer from TSO Direct data transfer from producer		Internet portal of the TSO: Open access, extraction by technical assistant Checks via internal templates by energy data analyst Direct data transfer from TSO: Extraction and transfer by TSO Checks with open access data by energy data analyst Direct data transfer from producer: extraction and transfer by producer
Annual fuel data collection for transport	Business survey without threshold	https://economie.fgov.be/sites/default/files/Files/Forms/Questionnaire-pompes-publiques.xlsx
Energy data collection at regional institutions	Use of administrative data (e.g. customs data or business registers): administrative data from business and households surveys		Extraction and transfer by regional governmental institutions Time series checks by energy data analyst
Annual gas administrative data collection	Use of administrative data (e.g. customs data or business registers): administrative data from port authorities, national regulator, national bank, interregional governmental institution, TSO		Extraction and transfer by respondents Time series checks by energy data analyst
Bi-annual households data collection	Use of administrative data (e.g. customs data or business registers): administrative data from the “Household Budget Survey”		Extraction and transfer by Statbel Internal coherence checks by energy data analyst

18.4. Data validation

As far as annual EU data collections are concerned, validation occurs in two steps:

validation by the data analyst responsible for the collection: besides the manual checks operated by the data analyst, automatic checks concerning the plausibility of conversion factors or the coherence between different sheets are conducted by the joint IEA / Eurostat questionnaires;
validation by an internal validation committee.

The internal validation committee checks the data from the perspective of the:

consistency of historical series;
consistency of data with technical documents (description of data treatments and other working notes);
accuracy of the calculations made when estimates / models are required.

The internal validation committee also routinely monitors data treatments, which are revised as required.

18.4.1. Data validation – national data collections

Name of the national data collection	Operations performed to this collection in order to improve data quality (e.g. checks between monthly, quarterly and annual, verification of time series, investigation of outliers…)
Monthly oil questionnaire	Verification of time series Annual check with other data sources Thorough check of outliers
Crude oil imports and prices	Verification of time series Check of quantities and origin with data from the “Monthly oil questionnaire”
Refinery capacities	Verification of time series Annual check with other data sources (yearly reports from concerned companies, report from sectoral federation)
Biobalance	Verification of time series Quarterly and annual check with other data sources
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks	Not available
Monthly electricity data collection	Verification of time series Monthly and annual checks with other internal and external data sources, including an annual check with the questionnaire of the “Electricity and heat – Annual statistics” EU data collection Check of the values of the population coverage and response rates
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	Verification of time series Consistency check with the “for blended” value of the questionnaire of the “Oil and petroleum products – Annual statistics” EU data collection
Annual data collection nuclear industry	Not available
Monthly coal questionnaire	Verification of time series Annual check with other data sources
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	Verification of time series Annual check with other data sources
Monthly gas data collection	Data are downloaded twice (around the 15th of M+1 and the 10th of M+2). The second time, the data are considered final. Check of outliers with TSO
Annual fuel data collection for transport	Verification of time series Check of outliers with respondents
Energy data collection at regional institutions	Verification of time series Annual check with other data sources
Annual gas administrative data collection	Verification of time series Annual check with other data sources
Bi-annual households data collection	Verification of time series

18.5. Data compilation

See 18.5.2.

18.5.1. Imputation - rate

Not requested for this metadata collection

18.5.2. Data compilation – data collections

Name of the national data collection	Additional techniques used for the compilation of the final data set	Details
Monthly oil questionnaire	Imputing missing / non-response rate Cross-checking techniques Adjustment or correction of incorrect data	Missing values are estimated. Incorrect data are adjusted after contacting the concerned enterprise.
Crude oil imports and prices	Not available	Not available
Refinery capacities	Not available	Not available
Data collection CSO tickets and strategic stocks	Not available	Not available
Biobalance	Cross-checking techniques Adjustment or correction of incorrect data	Incorrect data are adjusted after contacting the concerned enterprise at the time of evaluation.
Monthly electricity data collection	Imputing missing / non-response rate Adjustment or correction of incorrect data	Missing values are estimated. Incorrect data are adjusted after contacting the concerned enterprise.
External database about trade and production of liquid biofuels	Calibration: adjustment of incorrect data	The value of biofuels aimed to be blended is taken from the questionnaire of the “Oil and petroleum products - Annual statistics” EU data collection. The trade values, known to be imperfect, are modified in order to obtain coherent figures with the consumption.
Annual data collection nuclear industry	Not available	Not available
Monthly coal questionnaire	Imputing missing / non-response rate Adjustment or correction of incorrect data	Missing values are estimated. Incorrect data are adjusted after contacting the concerned enterprise.
Annual manufactured gases questionnaire	Estimation techniques	Historical data are estimated based on previous years data and data from other sources (regional balances).
Monthly gas data collection	Adjustment due to different units Estimation techniques	Production, receipts from other sources and entry / exit data are given in kWh and / or m³ (n) and are converted in TJ / Mm³ (s). Imports of gas from direct connections, off-grid consumption (including LNG for transport), LNG bunkering, and own use and losses are estimated based on previous years data.
Annual fuel data collection for transport	Imputing missing / non-response rate Adjustment or correction of incorrect data Adjustment due to different units / concepts…	CNG / LNG: data are given in kg or tonnes and converted in TJ using densities. Estimations are made for non-responding companies with public pumps. There is no estimation for putative non-responding companies that would have a private pump. Incorrect data are adjusted after contacting the concerned enterprise.
Energy data collection at regional institutions	Imputing missing / non-response rate Cross-checking techniques Adjustment or correction of incorrect data Adjustment due to different units / concepts…	Missing values are estimated. Incorrect data are adjusted after contacting the concerned institution.
Annual gas administrative data collection	Adjustment due to different units / concepts…	Data are given in tonnes / kWh / m³ (n) and are converted in TJ / Mm³(s).
Bi-annual households data collection	Modelisation	Residential consumption data from the questionnaires of the annual EU data collections is fed into a model, which disaggregates these by end-uses on the basis of responses to the questionnaire of the “Bi-annual households data collection” (energy-related questions in the “Household Budget Survey”).

18.6. Adjustment

Not applicable or not available

18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment

Not applicable or not available

19. Comment

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Annexes

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