ACM takes measures for filling NAM’s natural-gas storages

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets () has taken measures to ensure that market participants are able to gain access to the natural-gas storages of the Dutch energy company Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM). NAM must ensure that market participants are able to fill the natural-gas storages in the Dutch towns of Norg and Grijpskerk, so that these are properly filled for next winter. NAM must allow access to the natural-gas storages on the basis of non-discriminatory, objective, and transparent terms. With these measures, ACM contributes to the security of supply of natural gas in the Netherlands.

The natural-gas storages are owned by NAM, and, until this year, were filled by Dutch natural-gas trading company GasTerra. GasTerra traded the natural gas that was extracted from the Groningen field in the north of the Netherlands. With the closure of the natural-gas field in Groningen, GasTerra will cease operations in 2026. This means that the natural-gas storages in Norg and Grijpskerk will no longer be filled by GasTerra either.

The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK) must ensure that sufficient natural gas is available. That is why KGG has taken measures for ensuring that the natural-gas storages in Norg and Grijpskerk continue to be filled over the next few years. The natural-gas storages are not filled by NAM, but NAM sells storage capacity to companies that wish to store natural gas in order to sell it at a later date. As owner of the natural-gas storages, NAM itself can make arrangements with a company to fill the natural-gas storages on time. If this does not happen, NAM is required to offer market participants access to the natural-gas storages on the basis of non-discriminatory, objective, and transparent terms. To clarify how and when NAM must offer other companies access to the natural-gas storages, ACM has imposed a binding course of conduct on NAM. In that context, ACM has indicated, among other things, that NAM must charge a reasonable tariff, one based on historical costs and tariffs. At the moment, NAM and Dutch public energy company Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN) are seeking to make arrangements regarding access to the natural-gas storages in Norg and Grijpskerk. If NAM and EBN reach an agreement in the near future, NAM will no longer be required to comply with the binding course of conduct. Under European legislation, the Netherlands is required to have the natural-gas storages filled for at least 74 percent between October 1 and December 1.