Stakeholder portraits

Klaus-Dieter Borchardt has a clear vision when it comes to our future energy mix. He believes that gas will form an important part of that mix, but particularly as an efficient back-up for the ever larger share of sustainable energy sources and in the transport sector.

‘I see a beautiful future for the European energy market. I am committed to an internal energy market with well-functioning trade regulations, efficient infrastructure networks for gas and electricity, and non-discriminatory accessibility for all parties. A well-functioning internal energy market attracts investment, helps to successfully combat the energy crisis, is a driving force behind growth, jobs and security of energy supply, and brings the European climate and energy targets within reach.

My current efforts focus on opening up the gas market and enabling free gas trading in the 28 countries of the European Union. In 30 years’ time, we will have an extremely dense, robust and well-developed gas infrastructure at our disposal. Infrastructure companies should collaborate more across borders, including with distribution network operators, particularly to facilitate a free flow of gas molecules throughout Europe. In crisis situations they should be able to fall back on a much larger array of tools in order to be able to manage gas flows better in times of crisis, including on the demand side – in a coordinated manner and on regional or even European level.

Infrastructure companies such as Gasunie are essential, not only for setting up the European internal energy market, but also for developing, maintaining and managing the infrastructure. I think that in the future we will see a further concentration of infrastructure, which will result in an even stronger position for companies such as Gasunie.’

Henk Herremans is Director of Visser & Smit Hanab (V&SH). Making connections is in the company’s DNA. The company aims for long-term relationships through which they invest in a sustainable society.

‘V&SH and Gasunie have actually been partners ever since the start of the construction of the gas infrastructure in the Netherlands. Gasunie is one of our major clients. Our day-to-day activities cover all aspects of maintaining, modifying and expanding the existing facilities and networks. These include regular maintenance, breakdown services and large new-build projects. Gasunie is a partner we engage with at the highest level, and our relationship is based on equality. We set high standards for ourselves and each other, because – like Gasunie – we highly value quality, safety and professionalism.

As contractor and client, we continuously work towards a common goal, although we may differ in our priorities. We, for instance, always seek to ensure that our employees are continuously deployed, while Gasunie is mainly concerned to ensure availability within the context of security of supply. This results in a productive spirit of cooperation.

For the future, I would like us to be able to continue to develop the forward integration we both aspire to. We would like to be part of the process early on, to share our knowledge and experience during the designing and planning processes. We have been preparing for this for quite some time, and trust that we will shortly be taking this next step together.’

Jan Cees Vogelaar is Director of HarvestaGG, a company with a mission ‘to make the world a little greener’. HarvestaGG aims to help make agriculture and the transport sector more sustainable.

‘I first came into contact with Gasunie at a meeting about the bio-based economy. As part of the agri sector, HarvestaGG has developed a good business concept for producing biogas from grass. We were looking for partners to complete the production chain. The concept appealed to Gasunie. In 2014, we started talks to see how we could strengthen each other, and we found a good way of doing that. We produce green gas from grass, which Gasunie can then upgrade to bio LNG and feed into its network.

Our concept creates a win-win situation for everyone. Farmers have to become greener, due in part to EU legislation. Growing grass fits into this. And grass is also an excellent soil improver that can be harvested several times a year. For farmers, this is more profitable than, for instance, growing winter wheat. We turn it into fuel and so make our energy supply “greener”.

Gasunie is a company with a different, much more conservative, business model than I am used to in my sector. I’ve noticed that financing is a tricky issue – innovations naturally involve certain risks. It is difficult for Gasunie to invest using risk-bearing capital, because the company has a public task and must justify its investments.

I like to communicate in an open and transparent way, and that is appreciated. I get the same in return, which creates mutual trust in our collaboration. In this project, we combine two different worlds – the agri sector and the energy sector – I think that’s special.

If this project goes well, we’ll be able to start production in 2016. I hope that the first three or four locations in the Netherlands will be operational within five years. And then? This concept provides opportunities for the whole of Europe, and I like looking beyond borders. Perhaps we’ll also have one or two installations in Belgium by then.’

We are a company with a public task – securing the safe and reliable transportation of gas. We focus on our customers. It is important to us that our contacts with them are quick, efficient and pleasant. In 2012, we set up a Customer Desk, where our customers can contact us every working day. Marit Koch is a sales specialist in the Customer Sales & Service department and works at the Customer Desk once a week.

‘We set up the Customer Desk to provide a better service to our customers. We’re always there for them, and deal with their questions quickly and professionally. We keep track of the questions and remarks that we receive. If certain matters come up frequently, we take action to deal with them. An example of this is our website. Customers have told us that they sometimes find our customer portal cumbersome to work with. We’re therefore looking into how we can improve this.

We also hold an annual customer survey in which we ask our customers what they think of GTS in general. We also conduct a periodic quality assessment for the Customer Desk in particular – because we want to continuously improve our services.

Twice a year, we organise meetings for our customers. These informal meetings with our customers are important to us. We tell them about our plans for the coming six months and receive feedback on them immediately. Since our customers have indicated that they appreciate these informal meetings, we are considering holding them more often, perhaps in the form of a Customer Day.’

Dr. Martin Bürgel is Executive Vice President, Director Oil and Gas at the PSI Group in Berlin. PSI develops and integrates software solutions and complete systems for organisations, including infrastructure companies. The company is the supplier of Gasunie Deutschland’s important network control system.

‘PSI has developed a long-term business relationship with Gasunie Deutschland, reaching back to the old BEB Transport GmbH times. In 2008, a new chapter started when Gasunie Deutschland ordered INGa – the Integrated Network control system for Gas transport. As Gasunie Deutschland’s core IT system, INGa is now deeply rooted in the Gasunie Deutschland organisation and connected with many departments within the company.

Every complex, long-term collaboration project shows facets of a marriage – you get to know each other, you walk through difficult times together, find solutions, gain trust and create something new together. And you do all that in the rapidly changing world around you. This is just what we experienced with Gasunie Deutschland. It was a lot of work, and at times it was a huge challenge to implement all the new requirements. The results we achieved with regard to gas transport management and information security have been successful, and are now also being applied by other international TSOs.

Both Gasunie Deutschland and PSI operate and support the system 24/7, and the jointly developed redundancy concepts and information security systems are the basis of the high reliability of the management of the physical gas flows. The development of this information system coincided with a period when both IT developments and European gas markets were in transition. For example, Gasunie Deutschland was faced with more shippers, shippers who had been separated from the infrastructure companies, and new transparency and flexibility requirements from the regulator.

Our cooperation is successful, because Gasunie Deutschland now operates one of the world’s best gas management systems. But the job isn’t finished. Our joint future challenge will remain the development of adequate software solutions that we can use to make the most of opportunities and developments that arise both within the IT sector and within the energy sector.’

Gert van der Tas is Director of Dura Vermeer Ondergrondse Infra. Dura Vermeer is active in construction, infrastructure, engineering and services. With its knowledge, experience and craftsmanship, Dura Vermeer aims to help its customers achieve their objectives.

‘Together with four other companies specialising in underground infrastructure, we carry out medium-sized projects for Gasunie. We’ve been working for Gasunie for several decades, and to everyone’s complete satisfaction. For us, the most important thing is a serious relationship with the customer. We’re partners, and that’s how we work. What matters here is that you listen to each other and do something with each other’s ideas. Our relationship with Gasunie is open and straightforward – we respect each other and know each other’s expectations. If at some point something is not quite right, it is recognised and acknowledged, so that together we can look for a solution.

We’ve noticed that the projects that Gasunie is working on are becoming more complex. This also means that more is required of us, such as extra training for our employees – an investment we’re happy to make. However, we’ve also noticed that, subsequently, Gasunie itself is not yet always ready to take such a step. It’s a large organisation, which means many people are involved in the decision-making process. It would be good if we could better align this process.

A growing trend now is “forward integration”. We’d like to be involved in the discussions as early as in the planning phase. This would enable us, for instance, to contribute to the environment and detail engineering. In this way, we can benefit even more from each other’s expertise and create maximum added value.’

Good management and maintenance of our gas infrastructure is an important precondition for carrying out safe and reliable gas transport. As a field engineer in the Utrecht region, Louis Kavelaars works on an uninterrupted gas supply.

‘I’ve been at Gasunie for almost thirteen years now. As a field engineer, I carry out maintenance work on metering and regulating stations, gas receiving stations and pipelines. I also undertake any repair work. Gasunie is an interesting company, and my job is very varied. No two days are alike. What I also enjoy is the fact that we as field engineers are involved in new projects, where the experience we gain is used as input for improvements. What’s more, I always find a sympathetic ear when I need one. If I encounter a problem at work, action is taken to solve it.

For the coming years, I expect that our activities will continue to shift from all-round to specialties. This is because we’re increasingly being engaged in projects, such as the multi-year replacement programme.

What are my wishes for the future? I’d like to keep doing this work for a long time. Last year, there was concern about our terms of employment. That was unpleasant, and I hope that the situation will remain as settled as it is now. I also hope that, despite changes, we’ll continue to make use of each other’s knowledge and expertise. If we do that, and if we trust each other’s judgement, we’ll be able to improve the efficiency of our work – something I consider very important.’

Jörn Maurer is Managing Director of the regional gas network Stadtwerke Schneverdingen-Neuenkirchen GmbH in North Germany, with 6,000 gas customers. As of October 2015, the network will be the first in Germany to convert from low-calorific to high-calorific gas.

‘Initially, another network, i.e., the Stadtwerke Achim network, was going to be the first market conversion area to convert to high-calorific gas. However, due to the technical complexity in Achim and the more favourable surrounding conditions in Schneverdingen, our Stadtwerk became the pilot project instead. Together with Gasunie Deutschland, we discussed the challenges of this market conversion and we agreed on good solutions.

In Germany, we have had previous experience with the transition from L gas to H gas, so the technical knowledge is there. Our main challenge is planning and coordinating the process between all external stakeholders involved, and mitigating potential risks. Gasunie was very helpful in this process, and our direct communication brought good results.

Being the first involves opportunities and risks. The regulator in Niedersachsen is particularly interested in the distinction between costs solely related to the market conversion and costs relating to the original network operation. Due to the size of our company and in order to be as transparent as possible, we have chosen to outsource the necessary services. This enables clear mapping of the costs related exclusively to the conversion process.

The main bottleneck has been the shortage of companies with sufficient manpower to facilitate the technical conversion process in time. We opted for a diversified tendering process. This mitigates the risks and allows competition to bring costs down. In our experience, there is no need to fear European tendering processes. It’s all manageable.’

Frans Talstra is on the committee of a local interest group, called Dorpsbelangenvereniging Aktie ’68 Kommerzijl.

‘It’s quite something, having an installation like this near our village and the surrounding farms, with barely 600 residents. But thanks to how it’s been landscaped, you can hardly see it. You need to be vigilant, however, when you notice that Gasunie is doing building work, such as what happened a year or so ago, in preparation for the arrival of new compressors. We’re glad that in such cases we can always contact Gasunie and talk to the installation manager. In this way, we can monitor any public nuisance, such as heavy trucks going through the neighbourhood, changes in noise levels and extra noise when the new compressor installations are tested, the impact on cattle, sheep and deer, the extra lighting during building activities, and the limited accessibility of footpaths and cycle paths in the park. We really appreciate it that the installation manager makes an effort to understand the effects on our village and to take appropriate measures.

We’ve noticed that in the event of large projects, the engineers and managers involved tend to contact the relevant bodies (such as the council and the fire department), but they don’t always immediately think of the nearby village and its inhabitants. But as soon as we sound the alarm, we’re properly brought up to date. We can then publish the information in our local newspaper, to reassure the village.

Nevertheless, our local interest group highly appreciates it that Gasunie has now made practical arrangements in order to provide us proactively with relevant information. In that way, we can keep local residents well informed. As the popular Dutch saying goes: ‘A good neighbour is worth more than a far friend.’