Gasunie Transport Services (GTS) certified as independent network operator

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has awarded national network operator GTS the independent network operator certificate. GTS has thus adequately demonstrated that it satisfies the EU unbundling requirements as a national network operator and can execute its tasks in relation to the transportation of gas independently of its interests in gas production, supply and trade.

The unbundling certificate is based on the provisions contained in the EU’s Third Energy Package legislation, which requires national energy regulators to ensure that the national network operators for which they are responsible meet the relevant EU specifications. One of the conditions ACM asked GTS to satisfy in order to qualify for an independent network operator certificate was to combine the ownership and management of the gas transport network in one and the same party. This will be done within the existing organisational structure of Gasunie by transferring legal ownership of the Dutch gas transport network from Gasunie to GTS with effect from 1 January 2014.