Norway's pipeline gas exports to Europe hit a fresh annual record high of 107.9 billion cubic metres as of Dec. 29, preliminary data from gas system operator Gassco showed on Dec. 30.

This surpassed the previous record high of 107.6 bcm reached in 2012.

Norway's gas exports rose in 2015 due to higher output at its key gas field Troll, operated by Statoil. Gassco's data excludes Norwegian exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its Arctic Snoehvit LNG plant.