No need to worry about UK gas exports – Belgium 24 News Network

Belgium 24 – Energy Minister Tine van der Straiten has confirmed Belgium’s natural gas supply after news reports that the British government will cut natural gas exports to continental Europe if the energy crisis worsens and the country faces shortages.

The UK transports gas to the continent via gas pipelines connecting the Netherlands and Belgium.

During the 16th Belgian-British Conference in Brussels, Energy Minister Dine van der Strayden and his British counterpart Quasi Quarting indicated that Belgium and the United Kingdom will continue to cooperate closely.

An article in the “Financial Times” magazine last week raised concerns that the UK government could cut natural gas exports to continental Europe if the energy crisis worsens and the country faces shortages. Gas to the continent via a gas pipeline that reaches the Netherlands and Belgium.

In response to a question about the information, European Commission Vice-President Maroz Cefcovic indicated that the European executive would examine it and discuss it with British officials.

“Our country and the UK want cooperation on renewable energy more than ever, now that Europe wants to become independent from Russian oil and gas,” said Dine van der Strayden.

🇧🇪 en 🇬🇧 Willen Meer dan ooit Samenwerken op het vlak van renieuwbare Energie, zeker nu Europa wil become independent van Russische olie en gas.

Sprague met @KwasiKwartengBrits Minister Voor Energy, Over Hoch Brijgen, Energieweiliheid en Gasbevoorrading. #BelgoBritishConf pic.twitter.com/Z8pPbWQPbl

— Tinne van der Straten (@TinneVdS) July 1, 2022

However, Ms. Van der Streiden added. “We are preparing on all fronts for the coming winter. We are constantly consulting with neighboring countries like the UK to monitor and assess the security of supplies.

With an agreement in principle signed in February, energy ministers also discussed building a second power line between Belgium and the UK.

The project, known as Nautilus, will allow Belgium access to the extensive development of offshore wind energy in the UK.

To be joined by the second Belgian offshore Princess Elisabeth Nautilus, Belgium aims to quadruple its offshore wind capacity to 6 GW by 2030 and 8 GW by 2040.