News item | 14-01-2025 | 14:12
Although the amount of gas in Dutch gas storage facilities is decreasing faster this winter than in recent years, the government expects that there will be sufficient gas this winter. The Netherlands and Europe are in a much better position than during the energy crisis in 2022. However, there remains a shortage on the gas market and geopolitical unrest. The government therefore keeps a close eye on gas supplies and prices.
Sufficient gas
The government expects, partly on the basis of a analysis by Gasunie Transport Servicesno problems with the security of gas supply in the Netherlands this winter. The gas storages in the Netherlands and Europe are well filled ahead of the winter and sufficient gas is imported.
Europe is therefore in a much better position than during the energy crisis in 2022, when there was suddenly much less gas available as a result of the war in Ukraine. Yet there is still scarcity on the international gas market: there is a lot of demand for gas and the supply is limited. The government will therefore continue to keep a close eye on the gas market. The Netherlands is still at crisis level: ‘early warning’. This means that up-to-date information is continuously exchanged between the parties involved and the government about the gas supply.
Gas storages
The gas market is international: gas in Dutch gas storage facilities is also used abroad, and vice versa. Agreements have been made in Europe for the maintenance, transport and use of gas supplies.
Compared to other countries, the Netherlands has a relatively large amount of storage space compared to gas consumption. In absolute terms, there is still a lot of gas in the storage facilities, approximately a quarter of Dutch annual consumption. During the winter, gas is not only used from storages, but also gas is continuously imported via pipelines and by ship.
If more gas is used from the storages, more will have to be replenished next summer in preparation for the following winter. This is primarily the responsibility of companies. The cabinet is keeping a close eye on this. State-owned company EBN can partially fill the gas storage facilities at the request of the cabinet if companies do not do so sufficiently.
Import
The Netherlands itself extracts gas from small gas fields, but that is a lot less than we use. That is why we are dependent on the import of gas. Due to the expansion of an existing terminal and the construction of a new terminal in recent years, the Netherlands can now import much more liquefied gas (LNG). By producing more and more sustainable energy, insulating houses and making companies more sustainable, total gas consumption will decrease and we will become less dependent on other countries.
Gas price
During the gas crisis in 2022, the gas price rose rapidly in just a few weeks as a result of the war in Ukraine. Fortunately, we are now in a different situation and the Netherlands and Europe are much better prepared. But there is still scarcity on the international gas market where companies and energy suppliers purchase gas. As a result, the gas price on that market immediately goes up or down when something happens.
The majority of consumers now (contrary to the energy crisis) have a permanent contract and do not immediately notice increases or decreases in the gas price on their energy bill. To reduce energy bills, the government has reduced energy taxes from 2025 and increased the fixed discount that everyone receives on energy taxes. This winter, governments, companies, institutions and households are still advised to continue saving as much energy as possible.