In 2010, Belgium’s TPEC amounted to an estimated 56.8 mtoe, which is a very small decrease (0.73%) compared to 2009. Oil accounted for 21.76 mtoe, while coal and gas accounted for 1.91 mtoe and 17.49 mtoe respectively. Other fuels accounted for 15.64 mtoe, which is 27.5% of the total of which 22 percent point nuclear (all are estimates). ^[1]

*other: hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, electricity & heat, biofuels & waste

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*other: nuclear, hydro, geothermal, solar, combustible and renewable waste

^[1]

• 1. Natural Gas Information © OECD/IEA, 2011

In 2010, Belgium consumed an estimated total of 20,283 mcm of natural gas (less than 1% of the world total); about 15% more than in the previous year. In 2009, Belgium consumed a total of 17,712 mcm of natural gas, not even 1% more than in 2008. Of its consumption in 2009, 5,836 mcm were used for transformation and 4,682 for industry (excluding the energy industry itself, which used 17 mcm), while 6,180 mcm was consumed by other sectors.*

Transformation includes the generation of electricity, while the demand from the ‘Industry’ refers to gas used for such things like the chemical-, iron and steel- and machinery industry. The demand from the ‘Energy Sector’ refers to gas used for the extraction of coal, oil, and gas and gas used in refineries, coke ovens and gas works. ^[1]

*other: commerce and public, residential, agriculture, non-specified

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*other: commerce and public, residential, agriculture, non-specified

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• 1. Natural Gas Information © OECD/IEA, 2011

Belgium has very little gas reserves; the country depends almost completely on imports for its gas consumption.

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In 2010, gas imports accounted for 102.68% of the total natural gas volumes consumed in Belgium (estimated). 69% of all gas imports were accomplished via pipeline and 31% via LNG (estimated). Most of the gas pipeline imports originate from The Netherlands, Norway and the UK. LNG mostly came from Qatar. The share of Holland in Belgium’s gas imports decreased in 2010 to 25.91% and the share of Norway increased slightly to 30.32%, while the share of UK gas also increased (to 5.13%). The share of Qatari gas in Belgium’s imports increased slightly to 28.32%. From 2007-2008, the LNG volumes imported from Algeria started to be replaced by gas imports originating from Qatar.

• 1. Natural Gas Information © OECD/IEA, 2011

In 2010, Belgium exported 517 mcm of natural gas, most of which went specifically to Korea and Spain.

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• 1. Natural Gas Information © OECD/IEA, 2011

Pipelines

In Belgium, Fluxys is the owner and operator of the natural gas transmission grid (approx. 4000 km) and storage infrastructure. The Fluxys network is used for both transporting natural gas for internal consumption as well as shipping transit volumes to foreign markets. Yearly, Fluxys transports around 17 bcm of natural gas for internal consumption in Belgium, while approximately 80 bcm of capacity is reserved for transit purposes on the long term. Fluxys’ network also has 18 entry points, bringing to the Belgian market gas flows from the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Russia and various LNG producing countries. The grid also serves as the crossroads for transit flows of natural gas to the UK, Germany, Luxembourg, France, Italy and Spain.^[1], ^[2]

Gas Infrastructure Projects

There are two proposed infrastructure projects at the moment in Belgium which both concern additional compressor stations (see table).

• 1. Natural Gas Information © OECD/IEA, 2011
• 2. ENTSOG Ten Year Network Development Plan 2011-2020

At the end of 2010 there was one LNG regasification terminal operational in Belgium: Zeebrugge. Fluxys is the owner and operator of the Zeebrugge trading hub and the Zeebrugge LNG terminal. The Zeebrugge terminal has a storage capacity of 380.000 m3 and a send out capacity of 9.5 bcm/ year.

Fluxys LNG intends to construct a second jetty at the Zeebrugge liquefied natural gas terminal, the aim being to enable the mooring of regasification ships (ships that regasify the LNG onboard). Exmar, a pioneer in LNG regasification ships has expressed its intention to contract long term capacity with Fluxys LNG.^[1], ^[2]

• 1. Natural Gas Information © OECD/IEA, 2011
• 2. GIIGNL 2010

In August 2011 there was 1 operational storage facility in Belgium: an acquifer with a technical storage capacity of 675 mcm and 14.4 mcm/day withdrawal capacity and a 7.8 mcm/day injection capacity.

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In addition to the existing storage capacity, from August 2011 there was 1 projected storage facility in Belgium (also Loenhout) with a technical storage capacity of 25 mcm.

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• 1. Gas Infrastructure Europe: GSE Storage Map August 2011

The Zeebrugge entry zone (LNG terminal, Zeepipe terminal and Bacton-Zeebrugge Interconnector) is where the main gas volumes are imported into the Belgian market, it is also the place where the hub for short-term gas trading is located. In 2007 about 47.1% of Belgium’s gas imports came through the Zeebrugge area. Fluxys is the operator for the entire infrastructure there. In 2008, the total amount of throughput capacity of the Zeebrugge LNG-terminal was doubled to 9.5 bcm. The historical supply contract that Belgium had with Algeria of 4.5 bcm of capacity ended, allowing three new shippers to sign contracts for up to 20 years for the available capacity of 9.5 bcm. In parallel, trades on the secondary market have also been established. In 2009 there were about 26 companies holding licenses at federal level for the transport of natural gas on the grid. Ten of the above companies are active on the Belgian wholesale market. However, most of the gas for the Belgian market is being delivered by three companies: Distrigas S.A. (78.2%), Gaz de France Négoce (15.2%) and Wingas GmbH (6.0%). ^[1]

• 1. International Energy Regulation Network 2006-2009

The Belgian transportation and transmission market is fully liberalized. CREG is the national regulator responsible with the TPA regime for the transmission, storage and the LNG terminal infrastructure. CREG is also responsible with regulating the tariffs for distribution, transmission, storage and the LNG terminal. Regional regulators are responsible with the TPA regime on the distribution grids (VREG for Flanders, BRUGEL for Brussels and CWAPE for Wallonia). Distrigas split up in 2001 and created a new transport company: Fluxys. Fluxys’ shareholders structure was as follows: 45% Suez-Tractabel, 45% Publigas (made up of municipalities) and 10% free float. The Belgian state holds one Golden Share* in Fluxys while most of the shares of Distrigas former trading partners (also called Distrigaz) were taken over in 2008 by Italy’s ENI. From May 2007, Fluxys became the system operator of the transmission grid, the natural gas storage facilities and the LNG-terminal. These DSOs in Belgium are legally unbundled with Electrabel having a participation in about 80% of them. The municipalities are controlling the rest of the DSOs active in Belgium. ^[1]

*A golden share is a nominal share which is able to outvote all other shares in certain specified circumstances, often held by a government organization, in a government company undergoing the process of privatization and transformation into a stock-company. ^[2]

• 1. International Energy Regulation Network 2006-2009
• 2. Wikipedia 2012

The Belgian downstream gas market has been completely open since January 1st 2007 and there are 17 communal distribution system operators. In 2007 there were 3 major market players taking 83.7% of the Belgian supply market: Distrigas 45.1%, Electrabel Customer Solutions 28.6% and Gaz de France (10%). In addition Wingas had 6.0% and SPE 6.5% of the Belgian gas consumer market. All the suppliers are obligated to hold licenses issued by the regional authorities.^[1]

• 1. International Energy Regulation Network 2006-2009