News item | 19-08-2022 | 11:25
The cabinet wants to fill the gas storage areas as much as possible. The gas storage in Bergermeer is filled as much as possible. That is expected to be about 90%. The target was 68%. A subsidy is being worked out for gas storage Norg so that further filling can be done. The further filling creates a buffer to absorb any setbacks, such as an above-average cold winter.
The gas storage facilities in Grijpskerk and Alkmaar would already be filled to 100%. As a result of this cabinet decision, the storage facilities are safely filled to well above the European target of 80%.
Subsidy needed
To further fill the Bergermeer storage facility so that there will be sufficient gas next winter, the cabinet is allocating an extra 10 million euros. This money is necessary, among other things, because it is not commercially interesting to fill the storage rooms if the summer prices are higher than the winter prices. In addition to the EUR 10 million extra, the remaining EUR 200 million that was previously reserved for a subsidy scheme for filling Bergermeer to 68% will also be used. All these costs are passed on to the gas users with a levy.
Nearly 12 billion m3 in storage areas
Bergermeer will continue to be filled, with the expectation that around 90% will be filled. That is about 4.1 billion cubic meters of gas (90%) instead of 3.1 billion cubic meters (68%). This therefore involves approximately 1 billion cubic meters of extra gas, which means that at the beginning of the winter there will be approximately 11.8 billion cubic meters of gas in the storage rooms. Total Dutch gas consumption in 2021 was 40 billion cubic meters, but in the first five months of this year, consumption is 25 to 33 percent lower than last year.
Local residents involved
Further filling of gas storage Norg is possible within the existing permit. This does not alter the fact that local residents are concerned about this. Also because since last year no compensation has been paid for part of the area surrounding the Norg gas storage facility. That is why the studies on the basis of which this adjustment was made will be re-examined. And there will be research that should provide more clarity about the cause of the current damage in these areas. In addition, talks are being held with local residents about claims handling in the area surrounding the Grijpskerk and Norg gas storage facilities.
Rights Gazprom Bergermeer
Part of the unused capacity to which Gazprom is entitled is used to fill the Bergermeer gas storage facility. That space may be used if Gazprom does not use it itself.
Sufficient gas in winter
Sufficient gas will be available in the Netherlands for the coming winter. This is apparent from an analysis by GTS. This analysis assumes, for example, that the winter will not be too cold and that sufficient liquid gas (LNG) can be purchased. Now that the storage areas are being filled further, there is a buffer to absorb such setbacks. If that is not necessary, then the storage rooms are already filled for the following year.