diff --git a/rules/retrieve.smk b/rules/retrieve.smk
index 8ef373d1..9250e745 100644
--- a/rules/retrieve.smk
+++ b/rules/retrieve.smk
@@ -142,9 +142,6 @@ if config["enable"]["retrieve"] and config["enable"].get(
         protected(
             directory("data/bundle-sector/eurostat-energy_balances-may_2018_edition")
         ),
-        protected(
-            directory("data/bundle-sector/eurostat-energy_balances-april_2023_edition")
-        ),
         protected(directory("data/bundle-sector/jrc-idees-2015")),
     ]
 
@@ -160,6 +157,16 @@ if config["enable"]["retrieve"] and config["enable"].get(
         script:
             "../scripts/retrieve_sector_databundle.py"
 
+    rule retrieve_eurostat_data:
+        output:
+            protected(
+            directory("data/bundle-sector/eurostat-energy_balances-april_2023_edition")
+        ),
+        log:
+            "logs/retrieve_eurostat_data.log",
+        retries: 2
+        script:
+            "../scripts/retrieve_eurostat_data.py"
 
 if config["enable"]["retrieve"]:
     datafiles = [
diff --git a/scripts/retrieve_eurostat_data.py b/scripts/retrieve_eurostat_data.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aedc43c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/retrieve_eurostat_data.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: : 2024- The PyPSA-Eur Authors
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+"""
+Retrieve and extract eurostat energy balances data.
+"""
+
+
+import logging
+import zipfile
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from _helpers import (
+    configure_logging,
+    progress_retrieve,
+    set_scenario_config,
+)
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    if "snakemake" not in globals():
+        from _helpers import mock_snakemake
+
+        snakemake = mock_snakemake("retrieve_eurostat_data")
+        rootpath = ".."
+    else:
+        rootpath = "."
+    configure_logging(snakemake)
+    set_scenario_config(snakemake)
+
+    disable_progress = snakemake.config["run"].get("disable_progressbar", False)
+    url_eurostat = "https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/38154/4956218/Balances-December2022.zip/f7cf0d19-5c0f-60ad-4e48-098a5ddd6e48?t=1671184070589"
+    tarball_fn = Path(f"{rootpath}/data/bundle-sector/eurostat_2023.zip")
+    to_fn = Path(f"{rootpath}/data/bundle-sector/eurostat-energy_balances-april_2023_edition/")
+
+    logger.info(f"Downloading Eurostat data from '{url_eurostat}'.")
+    progress_retrieve(url_eurostat, tarball_fn, disable=disable_progress)
+
+    logger.info("Extracting Eurostat data.")
+    with zipfile.ZipFile(tarball_fn, 'r') as zip_ref:
+        zip_ref.extractall(to_fn)
+
+    logger.info(f"Eurostat data available in '{to_fn}'.")
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/retrieve_sector_databundle.py b/scripts/retrieve_sector_databundle.py
index a075119e..d311dac7 100644
--- a/scripts/retrieve_sector_databundle.py
+++ b/scripts/retrieve_sector_databundle.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ Retrieve and extract data bundle for sector-coupled studies.
 
 import logging
 import tarfile
-import zipfile
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from _helpers import (
@@ -47,17 +46,4 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 
     tarball_fn.unlink()
 
-    logger.info(f"Databundle available in '{to_fn}'.")
-
-    url_eurostat = "https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/38154/4956218/Balances-December2022.zip/f7cf0d19-5c0f-60ad-4e48-098a5ddd6e48?t=1671184070589"
-    tarball_fn = Path(f"{rootpath}/data/bundle-sector/eurostat_2023.zip")
-    to_fn = Path(f"{rootpath}/data/bundle-sector/eurostat-energy_balances-april_2023_edition/")
-
-    logger.info(f"Downloading Eurostat data from '{url_eurostat}'.")
-    progress_retrieve(url_eurostat, tarball_fn, disable=disable_progress)
-
-    logger.info("Extracting Eurostat data.")
-    with zipfile.ZipFile(tarball_fn, 'r') as zip_ref:
-        zip_ref.extractall(to_fn)
-
-    logger.info(f"Eurostat data available in '{to_fn}'.")
\ No newline at end of file
+    logger.info(f"Databundle available in '{to_fn}'.")
\ No newline at end of file