50 years of experience in the energy industry

VNG, which has always seen itself as part of an internationally oriented gas and energy industry, has its roots in eastern Germany stretching back more than 50 years. In 1958 “Technische Leitung Ferngas” was established as a division of the electricity supplier VEB Verbundnetz West, Dessau. The present-day company came into being with the change of political order in 1989: Verbundnetz Gas Aktiengesellschaft was founded in Leipzig on June 29, 1990, two days before German economic and monetary union came into effect. VNG was the first fully-privatised company in eastern Germany.

1958 – 1969 | 1970 – 1989 | 1990 – 1999 | 2000 – 2009 | 2010 – HEUTE

Februar 2015

VNG Norge was honoured with the Gullkronen Award as “Explorer of the Year” on 4 February 2015 in Oslo.

With immediate effect our customers and trading partners can now visit a new homepage at www.vng.de where they will find our centrally integrated VNG Business Portal providing essential online access to information about our products and services.

VNG AG signed a new syndicated loan worth 1.3 billion Euro with the support of 14 banks. The parties agree a term of 5 years for the new loan.

January 30, 2015

Certification of the Integrated Management System of VNG Gasspeicher GmbH (VGS) by TÜV Süd Management Service GmbH (TÜV Süd) is official confirmation of the high quality achieved by VGS in its operating procedures, in the efficiency of its Integrated Management System and in its improvement processes.

January 1, 2015

ONTRAS sets up INFRACON Infrastruktur Service GmbH & Co. KG (INFRACON) in response to the growing importance of and demand for network-related, unregulated services business.

November 2014

The transfer of shares in Wintershall Holding GmbH to EWE AG was completed in the share register of VNG AG on 4 November 2014 – EWE now holds 63.69% of the shares.

October 30, 2014

A new CNG filling station opened on Leipzig's Torgauer Strasse. This new facility takes the number of natural gas filling pumps in Leipzig up to seven. VNG-Erdgastankstellen GmbH now operates a total of ten CNG filling stations in Eastern Germany.

October 2014

On 8 October 2014, VNG commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Peaceful Revolution at its Leipzig headquarters. Special guests at the ceremony included the two former US Secretaries of State James Baker and Henry Kissinger, Matthias Platzeck, Prof. Dr. Horst Teltschik, Burkhard Jung, Leslie Mandoki and the conductor Kurt Masur.

As part of the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the Peaceful Revolution, VNG’s unique ‘signature segment’ of the Berlin wall was presented to the American people in Washington as a symbol not just of the struggle for freedom and unity but also of our good transatlantic relations. This initiative is supported by the Germany Embassy and the Atlantic Council.

mauerfaelle.de/BerlinWall

June 2014

Dr. Heiko Sanders, Member of the Board of Management of EWE AG, is elected as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of VNG AG on June 11, 2014.

On June 19, 2014, VNG Norge intensifies its activities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf by acquiring a stake of 7.56 percent in the producing Draugen field.

March 2014

From March 12, 2014, G.EN. Gaz Energia Sp. z o.o. receives all its gas from HANDEN Sp. z o.o. For the first time, Group companies supply all the gas required by the VNG Group in Poland.

January 2014

Within the framework of the APA 2013 government licensing round, VNG Norge was offered another six production licenses on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

From January 17, 2014, VNG Norge performs the role of operator for an exploration well on the Pil prospect in the southern Halten Province.

May 2013

On May 23, 2013, Sven Erik Svedman, Norway’s ambassador to Germany, presented Dr. Karsten Heuchert with his official Norwegian accreditation and turned Norway’s Royal Honorary Consulate over to him. Dr. Heuchert succeeded Professor Klaus-Ewald Holst, who retired after 15 years in the office.

February 2013

On February 7, 2013, VNG Gastransport received the Federal Network Agency’s decision on certification pursuant to Sec. 4a of the Energy Industry Act: ONTRAS now holds its certification as an independent transmission system operator.

Production from the Hyme field, in which VNG Norge holds a 2.5% stake, started on February 25.

On March 28, 2013, the anti-trust authorities approved VNG’s acquisition of the goldgas Group. With this transaction, VNG has rounded off its core business along the value added chain.

January 2013

On January 11, 2013, VNG AG concludes its first syndicated loan agreement with a consortium comprised of twelve lending banks for a total amount of €1.01 billion and a term of 39 months.

March 2012

Since 1 March, ONTRAS - VNG Gastransport GmbH has been an independent TSO to comply with the requirements of the German Energy Industry Law (EnWG). The de-merger of the Transport Division was completed to schedule.

The Storage Division was also spun-off according to plan, with ownership of the gas storage facilities passing to the independent subsidiary VNG Gasspeicher GmbH with effect from 2 January.

September 2011

Commercial and industrial customers located in North Rhine-Westphalia with annual demand of 1.5 to 15 million kilowatt hours (kWh) can purchase natural gas from VNG online via the new VNG|direkt online portal (www.vng-direkt.de).

Ground breaking at the new “Katharina” underground storage facility in Peißen near Bernburg is celebrated on September 16. Erdgasspeicher Peissen GmbH registered in Halle (Saale) is scheduled to successively commission twelve cavities by 2024.

June 21, 2011

Under the scientific and technical cooperation between VNG and OAO Gazprom, the ejector unit at the Bernburg underground storage facility is officially commissioned on June 21, 2011 following successful trial operation.

May 2011

The Etzel underground storage cavern was commissioned on 1 June 2012. The 1 June 2012 also saw the start of operations to fill the reservoir with gas. This is due to be completed for the first section of the cavern (approx. 50 million cubic metres of working gas volume for VNG) by January 2013.

November 2010

VNG Energie Czech and Energie Bohemia merge on November 1, 2010. All employees who formerly worked for Energie Bohemia are transferred to what used to be the holding company, which now assumes responsibility for gas wholesaling.

The first Berlin-based refuelling station of VNG-Erdgastankstellen GmbH begins its trial operation at Chausseestraße 61. A 20% blend of climate-neutral biomethane is available to environmentally-aware drivers at all VNG refuelling stations.

May 17, 2010

The Danish limited liability company VNG Danmark ApS is set up as a subsidiary of VNG Norge. It is responsible for exploration and production on the Danish Continental Shelf.

December 12, 2009

VNG purchases a section of the Berlin Wall signed by Helmut Kohl, George Bush senior and Mikhail Gorbachev on the occasion of the ZDF TV channel’s “Ein Herz für Kinder” charity gala. This unique specimen is to set out on an educational journey through Germany and Europe called “Mauerfälle” (breaking down walls) as part of the VNG initiative “Verbundnetz für Demokratie und Toleranz” (network for democracy and tolerance).

July 2009

VNG concludes a long-term delivery agreement with the Luxembourg energy company Enovos. From autumn 2012, VNG will deliver gas to Luxembourg for 15 years.

VNG bundles its gas business in Poland in a new Polish subsidiary called VNG Polska with effect from July 1.

May 19, 2009

VNG and OOO Gazprom Export set up the Erdgasspeicher Peissen GmbH joint venture. A working gas volume of almost 600 million m³ will be available following a 15-year investment period. The facility is located in a salt cavern formation in Peißen near Bernburg. The new underground storage facility goes by the name of “Katharina”.

April 2009

VNG becomes a natural gas producer in Norway. The company acquires all the shares in Endeavour Energy Norge AS (EEN) registered in Oslo.

December 2008

VNG founds its wholly-owned subsidiary VNG Italia S.r.l. registered in Bologna (VNG Italia) at the end of 2008.

October 1, 2008

VNG opens three new sales offices in Düsseldorf, Stuttgart and Munich as part of its plans to establish a sales network across Germany.

November 2007

One year after it had been founded VNG Norge acquires the first four production licenses and begins exploring for natural gas in a designated block on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

May 2007

Dr. Karsten Heuchert is elected chair of VNG’s supervisory board at the board’s constituent session on 15 May 2007. He has been on the management board of Kasseler Wintershall AG and a member of VNG's supervisory board since 2001. He was previously a member of VNG’s supervisory board from 1994 to 1996.

October 2006

As part of the Petersburg Dialog in Dresden, TU Bergakademie Freiberg and the St. Petersburg State Mining Institute sign a memorandum to establish a permanent German-Russian raw material forum in the presence of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

August 2006

VNG announces the founding of VNG Norge AS at ONS - Offshore Northern Seas, the world’s largest offshore technology trade fair and exhibition.

January 2006

VNG establishes ONTRAS VNG Gastransport GmbH, or ONTRAS for short, on January 1 in order to comply with stipulations of the Energy Industry Act to fully unbundle gas trading and gas transport activities.

October 2003

VNG concludes the first delivery agreement with the Italian company HERA S.p.A.; since then, activities in Italy have steadily expanded.

February 2003

Ruhrgas is taken over by E.ON AG on 1 February 2003. Düsseldorf-based E.ON moves up to become the world’s largest private energy provider. Conditions imposed by the German Economics Ministry require the merger of these two companies to liberate a total of 42.1 % of shares in VNG.

October 2001

VNG sets up the “Verbundnetz der Wärme” community network. The initiative seeks to heighten the profile and popularity of social commitment in the states in the eastern part of Germany. The initiative’s patron is Regine Hildebrandt.

December 1999

After two and a half years of thorough preparation by all VNG divisions, TÜV Süddeutschland certifies the process-oriented Integrated Quality Management system (IQM). The system’s Quality, Safety and Environmental Management modules give VNG a pioneering role in the energy industry.

June 1999

Its official entry in the companies register (HRB 15861) on 29 June 1999 enables GDM, Gesellschaft für Dokumentationsmanagement und Systemdienstleistungen mbH, to commence business operations. Sigmar Schubert and Ulrich Halfmann are the new company’s managing directors. GDMcom is a wholly-owned subsidiary of VNG.

May 1997

The new Gas Control Centre – the heart of the new headquarters occupied in March – commences operations at 18.00 on 9 May, giving VNG one of the most modern dispatching centres in the whole of Europe.

March 1997

The 500 VNG employees at the Leipzig and Böhlitz-Ehrenberg locations move into the new headquarters at Braunstrasse 7 in the Leipzig-Nordost business park in the space of just one weekend.

October 1996

An impressive ceremony in Leipzig attended by the President of the Bundestag Prof. Dr. Rita Süssmuth celebrates the beginning of Norwegian natural gas deliveries.

June 1995

The last town gas flame in eastern Germany is extinguished in Leipzig, heralding the completion of the conversion program in only four and a half years. During this period, VNG alone invested some DM 1.5 billion in converting roughly 6,100 kilometres of high-pressure pipelines to natural gas, building approximately 700 kilometres of pipelines and increasing storage capacity at its underground storage facilities.

January 1994

VNG signs a 20-year contract with Wintershall Erdgas Handelshaus GmbH (WIEH) of Berlin for Russian natural gas supplies, so ensuring the diversification of gas sourcing for the long term.

September 1992

The VNG network ties in with the West German transmission system at Vitzeroda on the border between Thuringia and Hesse. One-sided dependence on Russian natural gas thus comes to an end. The commencement of deliveries from Ruhrgas AG marks the beginning of gas deliveries from western Europe to eastern Germany.

June 1992

The two underground storage caverns at Ketzin and Kirchheiligen – the very first town gas storage facilities – are converted to natural gas.

September 1991

The remaining 55 % of VNG shares still held by the Treuhandanstalt [The government agency responsible for privatising the old East German enterprises (VEB’s)] are sold: Shareholders apart from Ruhrgas (35 %) and BEB (10 %) include Wintershall Erdgas GmbH Kassel (15 %), VNG Verbundnetz Gas Verwaltungs- und Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH Köln (15%, 14 cities in Eastern Germany (Berlin, Brandenburg, Chemnitz, Cottbus, Dresden, Erfurt, Görlitz, Halle, Jena, Leipzig, Nordhausen, Potsdam, Rostock und Schwerin), ELF Netzgas GmbH Düsseldorf (5%), British Gas Deutschland GmbH (5%), Den norske stats oljeselskap a.s. (STATOIL) Stavanger (5%), Erdöl-Erdgas Gommern Transport GmbH (5%) and Zarubezhgaz-Erdgashandel-Gesellschaft mbH Berlin (5%).

August 16, 1990

In a first step, Treuhandgesellschaft sells 45 % of the shares to Ruhrgas AG Essen (35 percent) and BEB Brigitta Erdgas und Erdöl GmbH Hannover (10 percent). Subscribed capital amounts to DM 540 million. All shares are registered shares.

June 29, 1990

Two days before German economic and monetary union comes into effect VEB Verbundnetz Gas becomes Verbundnetz Gas Aktiengesellschaft. Initially, all shares are held by the Treuhandgesellschaft (trust agency) in Berlin. The first – provisional – Executive Board comprises Dr.-Ing. Klaus-Ewald Holst, Lutz Hänsel, Dr.-Ing. Werner Hauenherm, Otto Hülsenbeck and Sigmar Schubert.

April 1, 1990

VEB Verbundnetz Gas is completely separated from the “Schwarze Pumpe” gas combine, thus securing the independence of VEB Verbundnetz Gas.

January 20, 1986

The Yamburg agreement is signed: this agreement concerns cooperation to develop the Yamburg natural gas reservoir, the construction of the transmission pipeline from Yamburg to the Western border of the USSR and other structures relating to the USSR gas industry as well as associated deliveries of natural gas from the USSR to the GDR.

1982

“Urengoi agreement” – under this natural gas delivery agreement between the governments of the USSR and the GDR, the USSR gives a commitment for the reliable and long-term delivery of an annual 0.7 billion cubic metres. In return, the German signatory undertakes to lay natural gas pipelines, build compressor stations and provide equipment in USSR territory.

1974

To ensure the security of supply three underground storage facilities – Bernburg Bernburg (1974), Buchholz (1976) and Bad Lauchstädt (1976) – with a total capacity of 1,490 million cubic metres are integrated in the IEG system.

May 1, 1973

The GDR receives its first Russian natural gas. Imports rise from 2.7 billion cubic metres per year (1974) to 6.5 billion cubic metres per year (1989). The gas is taken by VEB Verbundnetz Gas at Uzgorod/ Velke Kapusany on the Ukraine/Slovakian border. The gas is transported through former Czechoslovakia to Sayda under long-term transit agreements; at Sayda it is compressed and fed into the Import-Erdgas-(IEG)-System (pipeline system).

1970

“Schwarze Pumpe” gas combine set up with responsibility for VEB Verbundnetz Gas.

January 1969

The gas division of VEB Verbundnetz Berlin becomes an independent unit called VEB Verbundnetz Gas.

May 1968

Agreement between the governments of the USSR and the GDR which includes arrangements for Russian gas imports.

July 1963

VEB Verbundnetz Ost, Verbundnetz West and Verbundnetz Mitte are combined to form VEB Verbundnetz Berlin. “Technische Leitung Ferngas” becomes the gas division of this unit.

July 1, 1958

VEB Verbundnetz West Dessau sets up “Technische Leitung Ferngas” in Leipzig, the forerunner of the present-day VNG.

1958

Creation of the ‘Vereinigung volkseigener Betriebe (VVB) Verbundwirtschaft’ (Association of State-Owned Businesses) of which the former East German companies ‘Verbundnetz Ost’, ‘Verbundnetz West’ and ‘Verbundnetz Mitte’ (grids for the eastern, northern and central areas of former East Germany) were divisions. Verbundnetz West was made responsible for the transmission pipelines.