Annual Report 2022 > Home » Meeting the challenges of a changing energy landscape »
Infrastructure for
the future
Sibelga takes into account the changing needs of all Brussels customers when developing its infrastructure, always aiming for the best technical and economic performance.
Conducting construction in an urban environment: a complex challenge
In 2022, no fewer than 350 adaptation and renewal projects for the gas and electricity distribution networks were supervised in Brussels by the teams in Sibelga’s Studies and Construction department. This can be a small operation lasting a few days or a larger operation lasting several weeks.
“Assuming that there are 200 working days in the year, this means that on average no less than one or two worksites are started on the streets of Brussels every day,” says Ives Goovaerts, head of the department.
One of the greatest challenges for Sibelga is to make these urban works compatible with the normal use of the public highway. In particular, to allow for the continuity of traffic, whether it be cars, pedestrians, public transport or cyclists… Mobility in Brussels is becoming more diverse and complex, there are more restrictions, and this brings new constraints that we must take into account. For example, before starting a construction site, we must now almost systematically inform Siamu and ask for its agreement on the signs and diversions planned to allow emergency vehicles to pass through. During the construction phase, our teams and subcontractors must also constantly ensure that pedestrians can pass through, while ensuring that the construction process runs smoothly and safely,” explains Ives Goovaerts.
The end of the conversion to rich gas
Since 1 September 2022, all Brussels customers connected to the Sibelga gas distribution network have been supplied with rich gas.
As a reminder, before 2020, the Brussels network was supplied with lean natural gas from the Netherlands. When the Netherlands announced their plan to stop exporting natural gas by 2030, the network had to be adapted to gas with a higher calorific value from other countries.
The conversion took place in 3 phases, in 2020, 2021 and 2022. A total of 515,000 access points are now supplied with rich gas. “It should be noted that around fifty metres supplied by the Fluvius network will be converted in 2024,” explains Alan Lespineux, head of the conversion project at Sibelga.
