NEL Gastransport GmbH

NEL Gastransport GmbH (NGT) is a German gas transmission system operator headquartered in Kassel. It operates the Nordeuropäische Erdgasleitung — the North European Natural Gas Pipeline, known as NEL — and is responsible for the safe and reliable transport of gas through that system. The company describes itself as an independent transmission system operator that relies on a centrally controlled pipeline system built to the highest technical standards and continuously developed further. Its dispatching centre in Kassel monitors and controls the entire pipeline system 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. NEL Gastransport positions its infrastructure as a central European link: the company states that its network connects five countries directly with each other and contributes to supply security in Germany and Europe. It offers customers comprehensive transport services on the NEL pipeline and works with cooperation partners to strengthen European gas supply security. Alongside gas transport, the company is developing its infrastructure for the future transport of hydrogen and other gaseous energy carriers, and it participates in shaping the emerging European hydrogen market. On sustainability, NEL Gastransport reports annually and publishes a sustainability report. Its measures include pumping large gas volumes into other pipeline sections during repair or maintenance instead of venting them, using mobile flares so that CO2 rather than methane is released when pumping is not possible, infrared cameras for leak detection, hermetically sealed (emission-free) electric compressors at new or expanded compressor stations, and leak-gas recovery systems that route barrier gas from station facilities to station heating. The company also works on minimizing methane emissions in the context of gas quality analysis. On digitalization, the company says it uses modern technologies, agile methods and an open corporate culture, with a central idea management system, an additional innovation budget for trying out digital solutions such as prototypes, and a focus on developing tailored apps for specific use cases. It collaborates with innovative startups, established research institutes and leading technology companies. Dr. Christoph von dem Bussche has served as Managing Director of NEL since 2012, in addition to his role as Managing Director of GASCADE since 2009; he holds a doctorate in chemistry and has over 30 years of experience in the energy sector, and in December 2024 he was elected as the first President of ENNOH.

NEL Gastransport GmbH is the operator of the Nordeuropäische Erdgasleitung (NEL), a gas transmission pipeline in Germany. The company is headquartered in Kassel, where it also operates its dispatching centre, monitoring and controlling the entire pipeline system around the clock, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. It describes itself as an independent transmission system operator and states that its infrastructure, located centrally in Europe, connects five countries directly with each other. The company's public history is closely tied to the NEL pipeline itself and to its leadership. Dr. Christoph von dem Bussche, who holds a doctorate in chemistry and has over 30 years of experience in the energy sector, became Managing Director of GASCADE in 2009 and Managing Director of NEL in 2012. Before those roles he held various senior positions in the oil and gas sector of the group, including European gas sales and strategic planning. He is active in various national and European association committees and boards for energy infrastructure, such as the AquaVentus Förderverein, and in December 2024 he was elected as the first President of ENNOH. In recent years NEL Gastransport has emphasized supply security, sustainability and digitalization. It reports annually and publishes a sustainability report; its measures include pumping large gas volumes into other pipeline sections during repair or maintenance, using mobile flares so that CO2 rather than methane is released when pumping is not possible, infrared cameras for leak detection, hermetically sealed (emission-free) electric compressors at new or expanded compressor stations, and leak-gas recovery systems that route barrier gas from station facilities to station heating. The company also works on minimizing methane emissions in the context of gas quality analysis. On digitalization, the company says it uses modern technologies, agile methods and an open corporate culture, with a central idea management system, an additional innovation budget for trying out digital solutions such as prototypes, and a focus on developing tailored apps for specific use cases. It collaborates with innovative startups, established research institutes and leading technology companies. It also develops its infrastructure for the future transport of hydrogen and other gaseous energy carriers, and participates in shaping the European hydrogen market from the beginning. In 2026 the company was involved in a tender for consumption gas conducted by GASCADE, and it carried out construction work on the NEL near the Weser dam near Bremen, replacing a short pipeline section and temporarily using a hot flare as part of a safe procedure.

• 2026

  GASCADE conducts a tender for consumption gas for GASCADE and NGT (11 September 2026).

• 2026

  Construction work on the NEL near the Weser dam near Bremen, replacing a short pipeline section until 21 September 2026 (28 August 2026).

• 2024

  Dr. Christoph von dem Bussche is elected as the first President of ENNOH in December.

• 2012

  Dr. Christoph von dem Bussche becomes Managing Director of NEL.

• 2009

  Dr. Christoph von dem Bussche becomes Managing Director of GASCADE.

Independent transmission system operator ensuring secure and reliable gas transport, connecting five countries and contributing to European supply security while preparing infrastructure for hydrogen.

• Gas transmission services on the NEL pipeline

  Comprehensive transport services on the NEL pipeline, with a centrally controlled pipeline system based on the highest technical standards.

• Hydrogen transport development

  Development of the infrastructure for the future transport of hydrogen and other gaseous energy carriers.

1. 1NEL Gastransport GmbH: Wir versorgen Deutschland - Vernetzt in Europanel-gastransport.de
2. 2NEL Gastransport GmbH: Our companynel-gastransport.de
3. 3NEL Gastransport GmbH: Nachhaltigkeitnel-gastransport.de
4. 4NEL Gastransport GmbH: Digitalisierungnel-gastransport.de
5. 5NEL Gastransportwikidata.org