Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa), a global energy company, has joined specialist Dutch-based school Energy Delta Institute (EDI) to address the threat of a growing shortage of qualified personnel in the natural gas industry.

Taqa and EDI will develop and exchange knowledge and expertise in the challenges associated with the natural gas industry. Taqa will also receive access to staff development and join a growing platform of other EDI partners and international knowledge institutes.

'Taqa is committed to develop the Netherlands into the Northwest European gas hub and has chosen the country as its global centre of excellence for natural gas storage and transmission developments and operations,” said Jan Willem van Hoogstraten, Taqa's managing director for the Netherlands.

“Taqa's Bergermeer Gas Storage is a concrete example of Taqa' commitment to this endeavour. In addition to creating more than 2,600 man-years of employment in the Netherlands, the amount of storage capacity will cement the Netherlands' role as the gas hub for Northwest Europe.'

Eric Dam, president of EDI, said: 'Partnering with a global energy company such as Taqa will allow us to significantly expand our knowledge network. Taqa will without any doubt considerably contribute to EDI's effort to educate the current and future energy manager. We are very happy to welcome Taqa as an associate partner.”

Taqa's long-term investments in the Netherlands' strategic energy infrastructure are already a major contributor to the development of the country's ambition in becoming the Northwest European gas hub.

Taqa's Bergermeer Gas Storage will almost double the Netherlands' existing underground natural gas storage capacity providing security of supply and the flexibility required for a properly functioning gas market.

The Bergermeer Gas Storage project will, as part of the gas hub, provide a long-term stimulus for the Dutch economy. The construction of Bergermeer Gas Storage will create 3,300 man-years of new work of which 2,650 will be in the Netherlands.

The Dutch gas hub will generate 21 billion euros ($28.4 billion) of additional economic activity up to 2020 and more than 13,000 additional jobs.

EDI is an internationally renowned energy business school, with a primary focus on natural gas.  EDI’s main objective is to contribute to the professional development of current and future energy managers. – TradeArabia News Service