Belgium risks gas shortage during severe winter, report says - De Tijd

Fluxys Belgium SA

09/12/2022 11:13

Dec 9 (Reuters) - Belgium's natural gas supply could be
at risk this winter in the event of a cold wave, Belgian
newspaper De Tijd reported on Friday citing a leaked
government-ordered report.
    Belgium currently imports gas from the United Kingdom, but
the report warns that if temperatures in western Europe drop
below 0°C this winter, the UK will need all available gas.
    The report was made by Belgian grid operator Elia  ELI.BR ,
gas pipeline operator Fluxys Belgium  FLUX.BR  and the Belgian
energy administration who were not available for comment.
    Belgium, whose pipelines supply gas to Germany and the
Netherlands, then risks not having enough gas surplus to get
through winter.
    However, a spokesperson for energy minister Tinne Van der
Straeten told Reuters "there is no supply risk" in Belgium.
"Belgium has never had so much gas in stock as it has now," he
said.
    Prime minister Alexander De Croo and Van der Straeten also
told lawmakers on Thursday that Belgium would not experience
black-outs or heating problems.
    The nation of 11 million is a natural gas hub, with around
10% of total Russian LNG (liquefied natural gas) exports using
trans-shipment services at the port of Zeebrugge. In cold
weather, underground gas storage capacity of 9 terawatt-hours is
also available at Loenhout, near Antwerp.
 (Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout, editing by Marine
Strauss, Kirsten Donovan)
 ((Charlotte.VanCampenhout@thomsonreuters.com;))