The Dutch gas distribution company Gastransport Services (GTS) offers one of the cheapest gas transport tariffs in the European Union, a study showed on Thursday.
The study prepared by London-based analysts Arthur D. Little attributed lower tariffs in the Netherlands to a gradual reduction, which GTS - the transport arm of the former state gas monopoly Gasunie - had been implementing since 2002.
In late 2001, the Dutch energy regulator DTe required GTS to cut its tariffs by five percent annually over a period of four years. Three of the reduction steps have already been completed.
The study said Dutch tariffs were lower than those in Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, France, Austria, Denmark and Italy and were generally cheaper than those in Germany, except for short distances. The Dutch tariffs are in some cases lower than those in Belgium and Britain and in other cases higher.
A comparison of average tariffs showed Britain was the cheapest country with 37.16 euros per cubic metre of gas, followed by the Netherlands with 37.49 euros. Ireland and Spain have the highest prices, according to the study.
The Netherlands has so far failed to make GTS legally independent from Gasunie, which is 50 percent owned by the Dutch government and the rest divided between Shell and ExxonMobil.