N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie
Encyclopedia
N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie (short form: Gasunie) is a Dutch
natural gas
infrastructure and transportation company operating in the Netherlands and Germany. Gasunie owns the Netherlands gas transmission network with a total length of over 12000 kilometres (7,456.5 mi) and 3100 kilometres (1,926.3 mi) long network in Germany.
of Royal Dutch Shell
(25%), ExxonMobil
(25%) and the state of the Netherlands (50%) to sell and distribute natural gas
from the then recently discovered gasfield in the province of Groningen
.
In 2005 the company was divided into a gas trading company (now called GasTerra
) and a gas transportation company which kept the name Gasunie. The latter owns and operates the Dutch gas transmission network as well as the former BEB pipeline network in Germany, and a major pipeline connecting The Netherlands with the United Kingdom called the BBL Pipeline
. In 2005, the split of Gasunie took place through a buy out by the Dutch State of the shares held by Shell and ExxonMobil in the infrastructure part of Gasunie. Therefore Gasunie is now 100% state owned. The Dutch Ministry of Finance represents the Government's shareholder interest. Ownership of GasTerra is divided the same way as Gasunie before 2005.
, an energy exchange of the Netherlands, Belgium
and the United Kingdom.
Gasunie owns 60% of the BBL Pipeline between the Netherlands and England. It also has 9% of shares in Nord Stream AG
, the project company for the Nord Stream pipeline. Gasunie has agreed to have a 20% stake in NEL pipeline which will connect Nord Stream with the German gas system.
In 2007, Gasunie bought the BEB's transportation unit BEB Erdgas und Erdoel GmbH, a German natural gas pipeline network operator, from Royal Dutch Shell and ExxonMobil.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
infrastructure and transportation company operating in the Netherlands and Germany. Gasunie owns the Netherlands gas transmission network with a total length of over 12000 kilometres (7,456.5 mi) and 3100 kilometres (1,926.3 mi) long network in Germany.
History
Gasunie was founded in 1963 as a public-private partnershipPublic-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
of Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
(25%), ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation or ExxonMobil, is an American multinational oil and gas corporation. It is a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company, and was formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil. Its headquarters are in Irving, Texas...
(25%) and the state of the Netherlands (50%) to sell and distribute natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
from the then recently discovered gasfield in the province of Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
.
In 2005 the company was divided into a gas trading company (now called GasTerra
GasTerra
GasTerra is a Dutch company that is active in the worldwide trade and supply of natural gas. It is owned by Royal Dutch Shell , ExxonMobil and the Dutch government . Its history dates back to 2005, when the company was created after a split-up of the Gasunie.Before 2005, the Gasunie was authorized...
) and a gas transportation company which kept the name Gasunie. The latter owns and operates the Dutch gas transmission network as well as the former BEB pipeline network in Germany, and a major pipeline connecting The Netherlands with the United Kingdom called the BBL Pipeline
BBL Pipeline
The BBL Pipeline is the first natural gas pipeline between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.-History:Laying the pipeline between the North Holland compressor station at Grasweg in Anna Paulowna and Bacton Gas Terminal started on 14 July 2006...
. In 2005, the split of Gasunie took place through a buy out by the Dutch State of the shares held by Shell and ExxonMobil in the infrastructure part of Gasunie. Therefore Gasunie is now 100% state owned. The Dutch Ministry of Finance represents the Government's shareholder interest. Ownership of GasTerra is divided the same way as Gasunie before 2005.
Current activities
Gasunie is a shareholder of APX-ENDEXAPX-ENDEX
APX-ENDEX is an Anglo-Dutch energy exchange operating the spot and derivatives markets for electricity and natural gas in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Belgium. Established in 1999, APX-ENDEX provides exchange trading, central clearing and settlement, and data distribution services as...
, an energy exchange of the Netherlands, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and the United Kingdom.
Gasunie owns 60% of the BBL Pipeline between the Netherlands and England. It also has 9% of shares in Nord Stream AG
Nord Stream AG
Nord Stream AG is a consortium for construction and operation of the planned Nord Stream submarine pipeline between Vyborg in Russia and Greifswald in Germany, a project initially promoted by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and President Vladimir Putin. The consortium was incorporated in Zug,...
, the project company for the Nord Stream pipeline. Gasunie has agreed to have a 20% stake in NEL pipeline which will connect Nord Stream with the German gas system.
In 2007, Gasunie bought the BEB's transportation unit BEB Erdgas und Erdoel GmbH, a German natural gas pipeline network operator, from Royal Dutch Shell and ExxonMobil.