The Netherlands need not fear a gas crisis next winter if Russia no longer supplies natural gas to Europe. Condition is according to a study by Gasunie, that was published on Thursday, that coal-fired power stations may continue to produce plenty of electricity and that the gas buffers are at least 80 percent filled.
According to the Gasunie, responsible for the transport of natural gas in the Netherlands, there is even room enough if Germany knocks on the door of the Netherlands for extra gas supplies. Germany is much more dependent than the Netherlands on gas from the Russian Gazprom. Even if Germany requests an extra 35 billion cubic meters, the Netherlands can handle it. That is almost equal to the entire consumption of the Netherlands, more than 40 billion. Germany receives 50 billion cubic meters of gas annually from Russia.
It is unclear how long Germany will receive supplies: maintenance is now being carried out on the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline and that could be a good time for Russia to further reduce or even stop the gas supply.
No guarantee
In its calculations, Gasunie assumes that the demand for gas will remain substantially (20 percent) lower, as it has been in recent months. In a response, energy minister Rob Jetten (D66) emphasizes that, despite Gasunie’s optimism, there is no watertight guarantee that a crisis will not materialize. Extra demand from European countries in particular can still lead to a crisis. According to him, it is crucial that the Netherlands continues to be economical with gas. “So that we can fill the gas storage properly, but also because it is good for the wallet,” he told NOS.
The Netherlands annually obtains approximately 6 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia. Last week, the Gasunie announced that it had attracted 7 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas (LNG). This gas will be brought ashore from this autumn via two floating terminals in Eemshaven in Groningen. Incidentally, this gas is not only intended for domestic use.
Gasunie also announced on Thursday that the construction of the nitrogen plant in Zuidbroek in Groningen will be completed at the end of next month. The work was halted due to a conflict between various contractors. This has now been settled. The factory can start operating from October, which makes it possible to shut down the Groningen gas field according to the existing schedule (in 2023).
By adding nitrogen to foreign gas, so-called pseudo-Groningen gas is produced, which is used by central heating boilers and gas stoves in the Netherlands (and other countries).
A version of this article also appeared in the newspaper of 15 July 2022