Belgium-to-Britain Gas Import Capacity Rises by 11.3 GW for the Winter as Ofgem Consults on Funding
Ofgem said on 22 October that it is consulting on changes to National Gas Transmission's licence to support import capacity on the Interconnector between Bacton and Zeebrugge. Interconnector Limited said Belgium-to-Britain capacity would return to 27.8 GW from the 16.5 GW it had planned to offer. The extra 11.3 GW is interruptible, is sold through PRISMA, and applies from gas day 23 October to 31 March 2027.
Whether the arrangement continues for later years, up to September 2031, depends on the consultation, which closes on 20 November. Ofgem estimates the cost at under 10p a month for each domestic gas customer, about £1.19 a year, or roughly £6 over five years. It would be recovered through the General Non-Transmission Services charge on gas transportation.
By TEI's calculation, the restored capacity is 68% above the 16.5 GW that had been planned. Capacity from Britain to Belgium stays at 27.5 GW.
Source: Ofgem, Ofgem consults on proposals to reinforce gas import capability, 22 October 2026; Ofgem, Gas interconnector import capability: proposed modifications to National Gas Transmission's licence; Interconnector Limited, market announcement: update to INT's BE to UK capacity offering, October 2026 (PDF)