Half of Belgium’s gas consumers are converting to another sort of gas!

In Belgium, over 3 million households and companies use natural gas through the distribution network mainly to heat their home, for supplying hot water and for cooking. We’re not talking about gas in bottles (propane or butane), nor about gas used in motor vehicles (LPG, CNG).
 
Up until 2017, half of these users consume lean gas, imported from the northern Netherlands (Groningen - Slochteren). However, these gas reserves are running out. The Dutch authorities have therefore announced that they intend to gradually reduce their gas exports and to halt them completely from 2030. 

Lean gas will have to be replaced by rich gas, which will be imported from other countries such as Norway, the United Kingdom, Qatar and Russia. This means that Belgian households and companies currently consuming lean gas will instead receive rich gas. Today, one in two Belgian gas consumers are already using rich gas.

Lean gas and rich gas have different compositions. This is why the infrastructure used for the gas transport from the Netherlands to our country must be adapted.

All gas consumers who will be converted from lean gas to rich gas will need to have their gas appliances inspected and, if necessary, adapted or replaced if they are too obsolete and incompatible with rich gas. This way, consumers can be sure that their appliances will continue to run properly and safely.