VNG has maintained trusting supply relationships with Norwegian energy companies for 30 years and will continue to work closely together in the future

The gas supply contract between VNG and Norwegian partners was concluded on 16 December 1993. Since then, Norway's extensive natural gas reserves in the North Sea and the European North Sea have been an important cornerstone of VNG's diversified gas procurement. Since 1993, around 72 billion cubic metres of natural gas have been supplied to VNG from Norway. Supplies from Norway have contributed to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions in eastern Germany in recent decades.

"Norwegian energy companies have been stable and trustworthy partners for VNG for 30 years and will continue to be so in the future. Norwegian natural gas makes an important contribution to the secure supply of our customers. The value of this long-standing business relationship was confirmed once again during the energy crisis, in which Norway became VNG's most important energy supplier," says Ulf Heitmüller, Chairman of the Executive Board of VNG AG.

In future, the partnership will also be expanded to include decarbonised and green gases. VNG is pursuing the transformation path towards green gases in close cooperation with Norwegian partners. In particular, this involves the import of hydrogen and ammonia. For example, VNG is working together with Equinor on a plant in Rostock that will produce hydrogen from natural gas on an industrial scale and safely store the resulting CO2 in Norway. The aim is to produce 230,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year by 2030. VNG has signed a letter of intent with its partner Aker Horizons to transport up to 200,000 tonnes of green ammonia per year from northern Norway to Germany from 2028. In a cooperation with Horisont Energi, VNG plans to purchase 100,000 to 300,000 tonnes of ammonia per year from the Barents Blue project in Hammerfest from 2028. 

"We will have to import a large proportion of the hydrogen to cover future demand in Germany. We need strong international partners for this. Our goal is to drive forward decarbonisation in eastern Germany, especially in industry," continued Heitmüller.

To mark the anniversary, VNG organised a reception at the Norwegian ambassador's residence in Berlin with high-ranking guests. Among those present were the Norwegian Ambassador in Berlin, Laila Stengseng, Dr Philipp Nimmermann, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Economics.

In his welcoming address, Dr Philipp Nimmermann outlined the role of Norway for the German energy supply: "Gas from Norway is currently of great importance for the German and European natural gas supply. The move towards green hydrogen is also an important signal to support the German and European energy transition. Germany and Norway are working closely together to achieve a large-scale supply of hydrogen for Germany from 2030.” 

The CEO of Vår Energi, Nick Walker, also emphasised the importance of Norwegian natural gas for Germany and Europe in his speech: “Vår Energi is committed to continue to be a stable provider of natural gas to Germany and to Europe for the long run. We will double our production over the next two years. As part of the growth trajectory, Vår Energi becomes the second largest exporter of gas from Norway already next year. We will continue to explore for more resources across all areas of offshore Norway, while further reducing CO2 emissions, acknowledging the importance of emissions reductions through the entire value chain.”

Irene Rummelhoff, Executive Vice President for Marketing, Midstream and Processing at Equinor, emphasises in particular the partnership between Equinor and VNG: "Norway and Germany have an energy partnership that goes back to 1977 and I am very pleased that VNG and Equinor together have been part of that partnership since we signed our first agreement for gas supplies with VNG in 1993. I am also very pleased that we build on our partnership to develop low carbon solutions for the future through our project in Rostock where the plan is to produce decarbonised hydrogen from natural gas. Together our two companies offer a strong value proposition for energy security and decarbonisation in the eastern part of Germany.“

As part of the anniversary event, Ulf Heitmüller presented a cheque from the VNG Foundation for 10,000 euros to the Norwegian Ambassador Laila Stenseng to promote university cooperation between Leipzig University and the University of Bergen.