BBL Integration Succeeds, Says Gasunie

Gasunie Transport Services (GTS) – owned by Dutch state infrastructure operator Gasunie – said January 2 that it and BBL Company had "integrated their transport systems in one TTF Trading Zone as of 1 January 2018 by removing the Interconnection Point Julianadorp [and] as a result, the BBL interconnector has become part of the TTF market area.

"We are happy to announce that the implementation was successful," said GTS adding however, that if shippers do encounter problems, they are invited to contact nominations support.

Both companies announced November 21 that the integration would definitely proceed, providing a direct interface between Europe's leading gas hubs: the Dutch TTF and Britain's NBP.

BBL Company said December 28 that British regulator Ofgem had, the day before, approved BBLC’s proposed modifications to its general terms and conditions and charging methodology for forward flow capacity to accommodate the new capacity conversion service; these came into effect January 1, 2018. BBLC, which runs the 235-km pipeline linking Netherlands and England, is 60%-owned by Gasunie.

BBLC announced December 14 it was looking to make its pipeline bi-directional by autumn 2019; it can currently only flow gas towards England. Underlying its move is the sharp decline in Dutch gas production since 2013, because of Dutch government restrictions regarding output from the country’s giant Groningen gasfield.