Netherlands turns to LNG

The Dutch reign as a pivotal European gas supplier is officially over, as supply from the Groningen gas field declines

The Netherlands is now officially a net gas importer, as dwindling domestic gas output means it is no longer a key European supplier. As a result, the country has nearly tripled LNG imports into its sole terminal, at Rotterdam, to ensure it can meet domestic demand. Dutch LNG imports rose 167pc in 2018 to a record-breaking 4.05bn m³, government data shows. The Netherlands' own gas production, mainly from the giant Groningen gas field, was for the first time in nearly six decades insufficient to meet annual domestic demand. GasTerra, the official wholesaler of Dutch gas, says the Netherlands' reliance on imports is bound to rise over the coming years. "Ever since the first molecules of gas st