Announcement of the first delivery of nitrogen from the Zuidbroek installation

Gasunie expects, based on the most up-to-date information from main contractor Air Products and as previously stated in the letter to the State Secretary, that the first nitrogen from the nitrogen plant in Zuidbroek will be available to the market as of October. The installation will be started up in phases. Initially, Gasunie will not offer the full nitrogen capacity on firm basis, as part will be offered on interruptible basis. This is to take into account that there may still be 'teething problems' during the start-up.

This also applies to the first experiences with the technical control of the new installation. Gasunie Transport Services currently foresees that 120,000 m3/h will be made available to the market on firm basis as of Monday 2 October, the remaining 60,000 m3/h will be made available on interruptible basis. We expect to offer the full capacity of 180,000 m3/h on firm basis to the market on 1 November.

Partly due to the decreased market demand as a result of the high prices, the current outlook is that the expected capacity of the nitrogen installations can sufficiently meet the demand for nitrogen. There are no consequences related to our earlier advice of 31 January 2023 regarding gas extraction from the Groningen field.