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The impact of regulation and unbundling on gas transmission within Europe Wout C. de Groot, Gasunie. 23 rd World Gas Conference 2006 Amsterdam, 6 June 2006. Ownership structure Before July 1 st , 2005 One company. N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie. 100%. Transport company. Gasunie.
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The impact of regulation and unbundling on gas transmission within Europe Wout C. de Groot, Gasunie 23rd World Gas Conference 2006 Amsterdam, 6 June 2006
Ownership structure Before July 1st, 2005 One company N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie 100% Transportcompany Gasunie Ministry of Finance 25% 50% 25% Gasunie Trade & Supply 25% 50% 25% Trading company Ministry of Economic Affairs On July 1ST 2005 vertical integration has ended Ownership structure After July 1st, 2005 Two separate companies Source: Gasunie
EU objectives To achieve a competitive single European gas market • Freedom of customer choice • Lower and converged EU consumer prices • Increase of security of supply
EU Commission & Parliament European group of energy regulators National Governments National regulators Industry The process so far Starting position • Closed national markets • Integrated companies • National monopolies
Effects on gas transmission: potential benefits • Third party access to gas transmission networks • Well functioning market attracts new gas flows • Fully unbundled transmission companies are in the position to start consolidation process • New role for fully unbundled transmission companies
New role for independent infrastructure companies • No commercial involvement in LNG or downstream gas guarantees non-discriminatory access • Gas consumers can diversify their gas and LNG portfolio • Multi LNG supplier access to the NW-EU market • Possible inroads for traders of LNG • Fully independent combination as operator and main shareholder of the LNG Terminal • Access to full operational terminal • No financial hurdles to enter market • Lower cost to market
Effects on gas transmission: potential downsides • Infrastructure needs to be stand-alone profitable • Regulation as a new risk factor • Loss of information • Unbundling complicates closure of new supply & transport contracts • Well-market functioning requires ample capacity
Goal • A single EU gas market • Fully unbundled companies • EU competitors Well-functioning EU-market requires shift in regulation Starting position • Closed national markets • Integrated companies • National monopolies Strong regulation and legislation Relevant regulation and legislation