The Netherlands' national gas supplier Gasunie has announced it is tapping the reserves held near Rotterdam to cope with the increased wintertime demand for gas. The three liquid gas tanks in the Maasvlakte industrial zone are used to guarantee gas supplies in the densely populated west of the country.

Since large natural gas reserves were discovered below the Netherlands in the 1960s, most homes and offices in the country are gas-heated. The onset of winter, together with the end of the Christmas holidays, has led to an increased demand. A Gasunie spokesperson said that the extra supply is needed because many gas-fired central heating systems are being powered up in offices and schools after the holidays.

Temperatures in the country have been below freezing since the last week of December.

Checking the pressure (Photo: gasunie.nl)