Turnover of Gasunie Trade & Supply in 2005 was 14.7 billion euros (2004: 12.1 billion euros).
This increase of more than 20% can totally be attributed to higher prices of natural gas, reflecting the higher market value because of the rise of world energy prices in 2004 and 2005. The average price per cubic metre rose by 13.9 euro cents in 2004 to 18.0 euro cents in 2005 (a rise of 29.5 per cent).
Sales came to 80.4 billion m3 (2004: 85.9 billion m3). This was due to fluctuations caused by a decline in purchasing, growing competition and weather related factors.
Due to the after-effects of the 2005 price rises and the anticipated level of prices in 2006, Gasunie Trade & Supply is expecting a substantial increase in turnover.
Gasunie Trade & Supply operates as a gas trading company, the transport activities are carried on by a separate State company.
After the market liberalisation in the Netherlands in 2004 the competition got into the markets stride and increased. This is not only shown in the European export market but also in the domestic market. Sales in our country decreased from 35.4 to 32.0 billion m3. This decline of almost 10% occurred both among customers with annual offtake of less than 1 million m3 (small business consumers) and among industrial and large business consumers. In addition to the autumn temperature effect, the main reason for this change was increased competition on the home market from imported gas. The position on the export market is remained.
The activities on the Dutch virtual marketplace Title Transfer Facility (TTF) shows a slight growth during the year. This also proves that mutual trade and competition rise.
Within the scope of her sustainability policy, Gasunie Trade & Supply invests in the development of a new generation of high efficiency boilers, also called the HomeCHP (‘Thuiscentrale), in which heat and electricity is generated by a single natural gas boiler. Within the transitionproject CalorForce a large-scale pilot project with 50 boilers is scheduled for 2006. If it is a success, the boiler will be marketed.
The high efficiency boilers have contributed to the substantial reduction of domestic gas consumption. The HomeCHP has the potential to contribute to the reduction of energy consumption, a subject that more than ever receives a lot of attention in both the Netherlands as Europe.
Gasunie Trade & Supply is settled at the Rozenburglaan 11 in Groningen.
Contact information: A. Warner, tel. +31 50 3648 810/806
E-mail: communicatie@gasuniegas.nl
