Market integration: what is it all about?

Like Europe’s other gas markets, the Belgian and Luxembourg markets were based on national entry/exit systems, with access fees applying between the two countries. In other words, to be able to transmit gas from Belgium to Luxembourg, network users had to pay an exit fee for gas to leave Belgium and an entry fee for it to enter Luxembourg.

With the creation of an integrated Belgian/Luxembourg market, these entry-exit access fees between Belgium and Luxembourg fall away and the Zeebrugge Trading Point (ZTP) will become the gas trading point for the integrated market.

The balancing rules for the two countries are harmonised. Balansys, as a joint entity, manages the commercial balancing of the integrated market. At the same time, Creos Luxembourg and Fluxys Belgium keep their distinct identities and organisational structures.