Frequently Asked Questions

Can GasTerra’s customers exit from their contracts early?
Certainly, but of course this must be by mutual agreement and under reasonable conditions.

How will GasTerra ensure that continuing obligations will also be met after the postponed final date?
The reason we are extending the phasing-out period is to continue to meet our obligations and wind down responsibly – these are our intentions, as stated in 2019.

How will GasTerra deal with still-ongoing arbitration proceedings (such as those mentioned in the annual report, for example)?
Those activities must also be resolved before the final date or transferred to third parties in one way or another.

Now that the company is continuing for longer, can GasTerra not enter into long-term contracts again based on its extensive experience and then transfer them to third parties?
No, GasTerra is not entering into any new obligations. Our aim is to spread our knowledge about long-term contracts as widely as possible.

How will the amended phasing-out period affect security of gas supply in the Netherlands?
As far as our role is concerned, we do not expect any consequences as a result of the extended phase-out.

Does GasTerra now only have long-term contracts?
We can’t comment about the composition of our portfolio.

Now that GasTerra is carrying on for longer, will the company buy gas from the small fields again?
No, in this segment too we are phasing out existing obligations and not taking on new ones. Producers also appear to have sufficient other sales options now. GasTerra’s statutory task under the Small Fields Policy ceased to apply from 1 January 2022.

Will GasTerra offer producers more opportunities to dissolve contracts in addition to the existing opt-out option?
The contracts already provide enough opportunities for producers to leave whenever they want.

What will happen with contracts that producers do not want to be dissolved?
GasTerra expects all parties, at a time of their choosing and before GasTerra’s postponed final deadline, to have found other sales channels.

Can GasTerra sell the small fields portfolio (or parts of it) to a third party?
That’s possible. Our experience over past years (including the phasing-out period) is that producers have no problems finding other sales channels independently.

GasTerra has informed the gas market that no more gas will be sold to industries, energy companies or power plants from 2024 onwards. Will that still apply now that GasTerra is carrying on for longer?
Yes, sales to those segments will not take place after 2023. These gas users will therefore no longer be able to buy gas from GasTerra from 2024 onwards. Extending the phasing-out period does not alter that fact, we will continue to wind down our portfolio and associated obligations.

My company has contracted gas from GasTerra for several years ahead. What will happen with these agreements?  
The phase-out, including the postponed phase-out, does not affect the validity of the contracts. GasTerra remains responsible for the performance of these contracts until the contract ends or is transferred.

Which party (or parties) will take over GasTerra's role?
We do not know whether, and, if so, which, other parties will take over GasTerra’s contribution towards the energy transition. Our partners are, of course, free to explore other alternatives and we are happy to help them. Our involvement in green gas issues has already gradually declined over the past few years. We have helped to establish the green gas platform that shares our ambitions in that area.

Will GasTerra continue to support parties such as Entrance and NEC?
We have made agreements on these matters with the institutions concerned.

Will GasTerra remain active as a sponsor of social and cultural activities?  
The company will fulfil ongoing obligations in these areas. While we are still in business in Groningen we will continue to be involved in Groningen. The company will therefore consider, year by year until the final date, whether there is scope for fresh sponsorship agreements with new or existing parties. GasTerra will no longer take on any long-term (more than a year) sponsorship obligations.

How long will GasTerra continue to sponsor the Groninger Museum? 
Direct sponsorship of the museum by GasTerra is subject to the same conditions as the other sponsorship agreements; we will look at new objectives and applications from year to year.

Will GasTerra remain active in the industry and interest groups to which it belongs?
One of the main objectives of the phasing-out process is to leave the gas market in a good position. For that reason, GasTerra will, for as long as is possible and desirable, continue to share what it knows about the energy system and about energy market operations and to cooperate in finding compromises within these groups.