Background

75 years of expertise at your service

Distrigas is a dynamic company that closely monitors developments in the gas market and the specific needs of its customers. With more than 75 years of experience, Distrigas is a solid player in its field. Some key background information.

2009

• May: Eni completes the acquisition of Distrigas.

2008

• 30 October: Eni becomes the new majority shareholder of Distrigas.
• 1 July: Distrigas sells its subsidiary Distrigas & Co to Fluxys.

2007

• 29 March : First delivery of LNG from Qatar within the framework of a 20-year contract.

2006

• First industrial customers in the Netherlands and Germany.
• 40 years of natural gas in Belgium.

2005

• In June, Distrigas buys the Methania, a LNG carrier.
• Distrigas signs a long-term contract with Qatar for gas supplies starting in 2007. Under the contract, Distrigas will, in the long term, import approximately 2.75 billion m³ of natural gas per year from Qatar to the LNG terminal in Zeebrugge.

2004

• In March, Distrigas takes a stake in the second expansion phase of Interconnector (UK) Ltd
• Distrigas signs a transit contract with Gazexport, a subsidiary of Russia's Gazprom.

2003

• A new LNG carrier, the Berge Boston, is delivered in January. The ship is jointly owned by BW Gas (51%) and by Distrigas (49%) and will be operated under long-term charters by SUEZ LNG North America.
• In April, a commercial cooperation agreement with Energie du Rhône is signed for the development of natural gas sales in France for 'small and medium-sized industrial' customers who have been eligible since the summer of 2003.

2002

• Distrigas celebrates the arrival of its 1,000th LNG cargo.
• The new company Distrigas, active in natural gas trading, goes public.
• Distrigas is now active in France with an offering that covers the entire country.

2001

• Distrigas is split into a transmission company, Fluxys, and a new trading company, Distrigas.

1998

• The interconnector between Bacton and Zeebrugge is commissioned.
• The new VTN pipeline connects Zeebrugge with German and the Netherlands.
• Distrigas sells its 20 billionth m³ of natural gas.

1996

• The former, integrated Distrigas, goes public. At that time, Distrigas is still active in natural gas trading and transmission.

1993

• The Seapipe subsea pipeline connects the Norwegian gas fields with Zeebrugge.
• A new gas pipeline between Belgium and Luxembourg is commissioned.

1991

• 25 years of natural gas in Belgium.

1987

• Completion of the LNG terminal in Zeebrugge and the first LNG delivery by ship.

1986

• The Norwegian producers of the Sleipner and Troll gas fields agree to the annual export of more than 10 billion m³ of natural gas to Europe.

1978

• In Zeebrugge, Distrigas has LNG tanks built with a capacity of 135,000 m³.

1977

• Distrigas receives its first gas from Ekofisk (in the North Sea).

1975

• Distrigas signs a contract with Algeria's Sonatrach for the delivery of 100 billion m³ gas over 20 years.

1966

• The first Dutch gas arrives in Belgium.

1962

• Discovery of a gas field at Slochteren in the Netherlands.

1956

• Discovery of the Hassi R'Mel gas field in the Sahara with estimated reserves of 500 to 1,000 billion m³.

1932

• Distrigas begins operations with a pipe network covering 143 km.

1929

• Distrigas is founded by the company ICGA (Imperial Continental Gas Association).