Following on from the recent opening of a new gas artery between Norway and the UK, a second original pipeline sourcing gas from the Netherlands has become operational.
The Bacton-Balgzand pipeline (BBL), which became operational from the beginning of December, will supply 8% of the UK’s annual gas needs. It will increase energy security and add a further downward pressure on energy prices, a UK Department of Trade and Industry statement said.
On December 1, Alistair Darling, the UK’s secretary of state for trade and industry, said: A further step to secure Britain’s energy supplies is put in place today. Traveling more than 230km under the North Sea, today sees BBL delivering commercial gas supplies from the Dutch continental shelf through to homes and businesses across the UK…This increases our security of energy supply.