Ofgem approves deal to maintain UK gas import capacity from Europe

The UK energy regulator, Ofgem, has approved an agreement to preserve gas import capacity from mainland Europe to enhance national energy resilience. The deal allows Interconnector Limited to enter an agreement with National Gas Transmission plc to reinforce gas import capabilities through the Great Britain-Belgium interconnector.

The agreement maintains the Belgium-to-Britain route at 61 million cubic meters per day. This includes 36 million cubic meters of firm capacity and 25 million cubic meters of interruptible capacity. When combined with the 22 million cubic meters provided by the Netherlands-connected BBL route, the total capacity through these two links reaches 83 million cubic meters per day.

Ofgem noted that maintaining these links provides a critical option during periods of extreme demand, such as severe winter weather. While much of the UK's gas is sourced from Norway or via LNG, these continental interconnectors serve as a vital buffer. The regulator has opened a consultation regarding cost recovery for this arrangement, which is scheduled to run until November 20, 2026.