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South-North Corridor GRIP 2017 |
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Image courtesy of Fluxys
8.1.1.5 L/H Conversion
The gradual depletion of the Groningen natural gas field (which produces low calo-
rific natural gas, or L-gas) has prompted the Dutch government to completely phase
out L-gas exports to Belgium and France between 2024 and 2030 and to Germany
between 2020 and 2030. Moreover, extracting natural gas from the dwindling field
triggers earthquakes, so production capacity has been limited since 2014.
L/H conversion in Belgium (PCI candidate) (TRA-N-500)
The investments expected to cover modifications to the Fluxys Belgium network in
connection with the L/H conversion are mainly for:
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Interconnections between the West-East H-gas backbone and the North-South
L-gas backbone (at Winksele) mainly planned for 2018–2019 so as to start
converting the zone to the south of Winksele in 2020
\\
shoring up certain pressure-reducing stations to secure the optimum operation
of the H-gas market following the conversion
\\
additional temporary separators between the parts of the network with different
gas qualities during the various phases of the conversion, or different pressures
during or after conversion
These modifications are still being studied. The scope and schedule, especially for
the second and third bullet points above, still need to be set out. This does not take
into account inspections of gas appliances at customer sites or changes to public
distribution networks.