Gasunie to Safeguard Security of Gas Supply in the Netherlands and Europe
Gasunie, operator of energy infrastructure in the Netherlands and Germany, will take extra steps in the coming period to safeguard the security of gas supply for the Netherlands, Germany, and Europe. In concrete terms, this involves the construction of a new storage terminal for LNG and sustainable energy in Brunsbüttel (Germany), as announced by German Chancellor Scholz in his speech in the Bundestag on Sunday 27 February. Gasunie is also investigating the possibility of further increasing its LNG import capacity into the Netherlands before the end of the year. Gasunie is taking these steps in close cooperation with the Dutch and German governments.
“The Russian invasion of the Ukraine is a major humanitarian tragedy and we sympathise with the people who are now suffering the consequences of the war. It is clear that this war has consequences for European energy policy. As a state-owned company, we are in close contact with the Dutch and German governments. We share our knowledge and expertise to safeguard the security of gas supply in the short and longer term for households and businesses. To this end, we are taking concrete steps to build new energy infrastructure as quickly as possible,” Han Fennema, CEO of Gasunie, stated.
German Chancellor Scholz announced the construction of two energy import terminals in his speech to the Bundestag on Sunday 27 February. One of these is a terminal in Brunsbüttel that Gasunie is developing. Talks with the German government about the construction are in the final stage. Gasunie hopes to start construction of the terminal before the end of the year. In addition to LNG, this terminal will be made suitable for importing (green) hydrogen as well. Gasunie is also investigating in the short term how LNG import capacity in the Netherlands can be further increased. In this way the dependence on gas imports from Russia can be reduced.
Gasunie will also freeze all non-operational relations and contacts with Russian companies, such as Gazprom. On the basis of its 9% shareholding, Gasunie’s CEO has a qualitative seat on Nord Stream’s Shareholders Committee. In light of current developments, Han Fennema is suspending his activities in this regard. Cooperation in knowledge-sharing and scientific development is also halted.
Operational contacts with Russian companies have been reduced to the minimum level necessary to facilitate security of supply for the Netherlands and Europe via their infrastructure. Due to the major social and economic consequences for society in Europe, Gasunie is following the government’s policy on gas imports from Russia. Naturally, Gasunie acts entirely in line with European and Dutch sanctions policy.
About Gasunie
Gasunie is a European energy-infrastructure company. Gasunie’s network is one of the largest high-pressure pipeline networks in Europe, comprising over 17,000 kilometres of pipeline in the Netherlands and northern Germany. Gasunie provides natural and green gas transport services through its subsidiaries, Gasunie Transport Services B.V. (GTS) in the Netherlands and Gasunie Deutschland in Germany. With its cross-border gas infrastructure and services, Gasunie facilitates TTF, which has become the leading European gas trading point. Gasunie also provides other gas infrastructure services, including gas storage and LNG. Gasunie wants to help accelerate the transition to a CO2-neutral energy supply and believes that gas-related innovations, for instance in the form of renewable gases such as hydrogen and green gas, can make an important contribution. Both existing and new gas infrastructure play a key role here. Gasunie also plays an active part in the development of other energy infrastructure to support the energy transition.
