Recently Mozambique discovered an enormous gas reserve off shore. The country aims at developing its gas sector and seeks international experience and advice on how to do this in a comprehensive way.

The Netherlands has developed its gas sector over the last 60 years and is eager to share its experiences with countries that are taking first steps in this direction. During a course of ten intensive days, a group of representatives from the Ministry of Mineral Resources and other organisations related to the gas sector were given an overview of how the Netherlands' gas sector works.

The course aimed to improve the representatives’ knowledge and skills about developing gas in order to implement best practices in their own country. During interactive workshops, the participants were challenged to apply the newly obtained knowledge to the situation in Mozambique.

Working visits

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"4977","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"360","style":"width: 300px; height: 225px; float: right;","width":"480"}}]]Apart from the in-depth lectures and workshops, the programme consisted of several working visits. This provided the group with insights in how the chain of organisations and companies are connected and also allowed them to get in touch with colleagues working on the same subjects.

Moreover, they directly witnessed where and how the work is done. The group visited the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Shell, the harbour of Rotterdam and the LNG Gate Terminal, the Gasunie in Groningen and the underground gas storage facility in Grijpskerk, as well as the department of TNO for collecting geological data.

Government-business cooperation in the Netherlands

At the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the participants learned about the role of the Ministry in the process of gas and oil production, especially in terms of legislation and granting licenses. Furthermore, it was discussed how the government cooperates with private companies on oil and gas production projects. How the Dutch allocate the revenues from oil and gas production to the state budget was also demonstrated.

The group also paid a visit to the Shell Headquarters and Technology Centre in Rijswijk. Shell presented its approach when developing new projects, as well as new technologies for exploring and examining soil in search of oil and gas. The programme included a visit to the Shell Learning Centre, where more than 10,000 Shell employees are trained annually, and where a drilling simulation exercise was demonstrated.

The Rotterdam Harbour and Groningen Gas

At the Maasvlakte in Rotterdam the group experienced the vastness of the harbour. They received information on the construction of the Second Maasvlakte and the role of the Port Authority at the FutureLand centre, overlooking the newest part of the harbour.

Next on the programme was a visit to the Gate Terminal, the port’s import terminal for Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), where a presentation was given on the processes and facilities involved in producing, storing and transporting LNG. A tour around the LNG storage tanks concluded the day’s working visit.

The course was organised by the Clingendael Academy in cooperation with the Clingendael International Energy Programme (CIEP).

For more information, please contact Ms. Mariska Heijs, Training and Research Fellow, Clingendael Academy or Ms. Coby van der Linde, Director CIEP.

- 23 February 2015