Belgium comprises less than 5% of gas demand in the European Union and does not have any indigenous gas production. All gas is imported into Belgium either in the form of piped gas or LNG. Belgium has virtually no natural resources except for coal, which may contain potential for CBM.
Dart Energy has a joint venture agreement with NVM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Limburgse Reconversie Matschappij, a Flanders Authority-owned enterprise, with a charter focused on promoting economic development in the province of Limburg, Belgium. NVM owns approximately 80% of all coal concessions in the Flanders region.
Dart Energy has undertaken desktop geological and geophysical studies to identify areas prospective for CBM and shale gas in the Campine basin. Under the agreement, which was signed in April 2011 and lasts for 3 years, the joint venture will identify opportunities and apply for gas exploration permits.
NVM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Limburgse Reconversie Maatschappij (LRM), a Flanders Authority-owned enterprise that focuses on economic development and promoting employment in the province of Limburg, Belgium. NVM owns all the coal fields in the Flanders region.
Belgium is well placed in the centre of the mature Western Europe gas market. Flanders has a developed network of pipeline infrastructure that would allow for quick monetisation of CBM in the region and the NVM coal fields are proximal to pipelines that will provide access to the freely traded Zeebrugge gas market.