The European Commission has approved SEFE’s acquisition of the outstanding 50.02 per cent of the shares in WIGA held by the previous joint venture partner Wintershall Dea. SEFE is now taking over WIGA in full as sole shareholder.
In March 2024 the European Commission had already authorised the necessary amendment under state aid law.
“The European Commission's green light for SEFE as the sole shareholder of WIGA marks a milestone for our growth strategy,” said Reinhard Gorenflos, Chairman of SEFE's Supervisory Board, welcoming the decision. “The pipeline network is crucial for European energy security; it’s crucial for competitive transportation services for natural gas and, in the future, hydrogen.”
“This transaction underlines the strategic importance of the energy transition. With a high-performance infrastructure, we will be able to support the future transport of climate-neutral gases such as hydrogen from production sites to industrial centres,” added Dr Egbert Laege, CEO of SEFE.
WIGA owns the gas network operators GASCADE Gastransport GmbH (GASCADE) and NEL Gastransport GmbH (NGT), which together have more than 500 employees and operate networks in Germany with a combined length of around 4,150 kilometres. GASCADE and NGT will continue to operate independently.
“The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price,” explains Dr Christian Ohlms, CFO of SEFE. “This transaction strengthens our asset base and will significantly help us to continue developing SEFE in a financially stable manner for the long term.”
About SEFE
SEFE is an international energy company anchored in Europe, delivering energy solutions that ensure reliable and affordable supply. Our activities span the entire energy value chain – from origination and trading to sales, transport and storage. With decades of trading expertise and a growing LNG portfolio, SEFE is one of Europe’s leading suppliers to industrial customers, providing more than 200 TWh of gas and power each year. We supply over 50,000 clients, from small businesses to municipalities and multinational organisations. By investing in clean energies, we support our customers on their decarbonisation journey and contribute to the energy transition. SEFE employs over 2,000 people worldwide and is owned by the Federal Government of Germany.
