Netherland Indies Gas Company
The Netherland Indies Gas Company was a Dutch colonial-era gas and electricity utility that later became the diversified engineering and construction group OGEM.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Netherland Indies Gas Company, known in Dutch as Nederlandsch Indische Gasmaatschappij and commonly abbreviated NIGM, was a gas and electricity business established in the Dutch East Indies on 10 December 1863. It developed and operated utility infrastructure across several territories connected to the Netherlands, including the Dutch East Indies, Suriname, Curaçao and the Netherlands Antilles. Its original business centered on manufactured-gas production and electricity generation, but its geographic footprint and operating scope expanded considerably over time. By the period around the Second World War, NIGM operated 11 gas plants and 33 power plants. These facilities made the company an important provider of urban energy infrastructure in colonial and overseas markets. The company entered Suriname in 1908 and Curaçao in 1927, extending its activities beyond the Dutch East Indies. The postwar period brought major political and institutional changes to these markets. In 1950, the company was renamed Overzeese Gas- en Electriciteitsmaatschappij, generally known by the abbreviation OGEM, or Overseas Gas and Electric Company in English. Indonesia nationalized its operations in 1954. Its Surinamese activities were nationalized during the 1970s, while the Curaçao operations were nationalized in 1977. After the transition to OGEM, the group moved beyond utility operations and pursued a broader industrial strategy. It acquired businesses in electrical installation, technical distribution, construction and related engineering services. Notable transactions included the purchase of Croon & Co Klaas Fibbe in 1959, Wolter & Dros in 1963, the Dutch technical wholesaler Technische Unie in 1969, construction company Eesteren in 1972 and Voormolen in 1975. This diversification changed the business from a primarily overseas gas-and-electricity operator into a wider technical, trading and construction group. OGEM also pursued international construction activity. Between 1977 and 1979 it undertook a construction project in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, involving eight buildings. In July 1977 it acquired a 44 percent interest in Beton und Monierbau, a construction company based in Düsseldorf. These moves reflected the group's attempt to expand internationally while compensating for the loss or nationalization of several former utility operations. The expansion was financed substantially through debt. OGEM recorded a loss of 120 million guilders in 1980 and entered bankruptcy in the early 1980s. Parts of the business were subsequently reorganized under the name Engineering Building and Industry, or TBI. The bankruptcy proceedings were completed in 1994. As a result, the original NIGM corporate identity is principally associated with the historical development of gas and electricity infrastructure in Dutch overseas territories, while its later corporate successor is remembered for a much more diversified engineering and construction portfolio.
History
The Netherland Indies Gas Company was founded on 10 December 1863 in the Dutch East Indies as Nederlandsch Indische Gasmaatschappij. Its initial role was to provide gas infrastructure in an overseas colonial setting, but the business subsequently developed electricity-generation capabilities and became a multi-territory utility operator. It expanded into Suriname in 1908 and Curaçao in 1927. By the era of the Second World War, its network comprised 11 gas plants and 33 power plants. The company's postwar development was shaped by decolonization and the changing ownership of utility infrastructure. In 1950, it was renamed Overzeese Gas- en Electriciteitsmaatschappij, abbreviated OGEM. Indonesia nationalized its operations in 1954. The Surinamese activities were nationalized during the 1970s, and the Curaçao operations were nationalized in 1977. These changes diminished the importance of the original overseas utility business and encouraged the group to seek growth in other sectors. OGEM pursued diversification through acquisitions in technical services, distribution and construction. It acquired Croon & Co Klaas Fibbe in 1959, Wolter & Dros in 1963 and Technische Unie in 1969. It then expanded into construction through the acquisitions of Eesteren in 1972 and Voormolen in 1975. The group also sought international growth. From 1977 to 1979 it carried out an eight-building construction project in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. In July 1977 it bought a 44 percent interest in Beton und Monierbau of Düsseldorf. The diversification and international expansion were financed in significant part with debt. OGEM suffered a loss of 120 million guilders in 1980 and went bankrupt in the early 1980s. Parts of the enterprise were reorganized under the name Engineering Building and Industry, commonly abbreviated TBI. The bankruptcy proceedings were completed in 1994. The historical NIGM/OGEM business therefore passed through three broad phases: an overseas gas utility phase, a postwar transition and nationalization phase, and a final period as a leveraged technical and construction conglomerate.
- 1994
Bankruptcy proceedings completed
[1]The company's bankruptcy proceedings were completed after parts of the business had been reorganized under TBI.
- 1980
Major loss recorded
[1]OGEM reported a loss of 120 million guilders.
- 1954
Indonesian operations nationalized
[1]Indonesia nationalized the company's operations in the country.
- 1950
OGEM name adopted
[1]NIGM became Overzeese Gas- en Electriciteitsmaatschappij, or OGEM.
- 1927
Expansion into Curaçao
[1]The company expanded its utility activities to Curaçao.
- 1908
Expansion into Suriname
[1]The company began operating in Suriname.
- 1863
NIGM founded
[1]Nederlandsch Indische Gasmaatschappij was established on 10 December 1863 in the Dutch East Indies.
Products and positioning
Originally positioned as an overseas gas and electricity utility, the company later repositioned itself as a diversified technical, trading, engineering and construction group under the OGEM name.
Energy utility · 1863
Manufactured gas
Manufactured gas was the company's original core offering. NIGM developed and operated gas plants in Dutch overseas territories, supplying urban and commercial energy infrastructure. By the Second World War era, the group operated 11 gas plants.
Energy utility
Electricity generation and distribution
Electricity became a major part of the company's utility portfolio alongside gas. By the World War II era, its network included 33 power plants across its operating territories.
Technical services · 1959
Electrical installation
Following the transition to OGEM, the group expanded into electrical installation through acquisitions including Croon & Co Klaas Fibbe and Wolter & Dros.
Distribution · 1969
Technical wholesale
The acquisition of Technische Unie in 1969 added Dutch technical wholesaling and distribution to OGEM's portfolio.
Construction · 1972
Construction and engineering
OGEM developed a construction and engineering business through acquisitions including Eesteren and Voormolen, and through international projects such as the eight-building development in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Brand decisions
1980
Bankruptcy and restructuringOtherBackground
Debt-funded acquisitions and international expansion left OGEM financially vulnerable, and the company recorded a loss of 120 million guilders in 1980.
Action taken
OGEM entered bankruptcy in the early 1980s, after which parts of the business were reorganized under the TBI name.
Aftermath
The bankruptcy proceedings were completed in 1994 and the original NIGM/OGEM corporate identity ceased to operate as an independent group.
Loss. 120 million guilders loss (1980)
1977
International construction expansionStrategyBackground
Further nationalization of overseas utilities encouraged OGEM to pursue international construction and industrial activities.
Action taken
OGEM undertook an eight-building project in Dammam and acquired a 44 percent stake in Beton und Monierbau.
Aftermath
The expansion increased the group's international construction exposure but also contributed to a debt-heavy structure.
1969
Takeover of Technische UnieM&ABackground
OGEM was building a diversified portfolio around engineering and technical infrastructure.
Action taken
The group took over Dutch technical wholesaler Technische Unie.
Aftermath
OGEM added technical distribution to its electrical and installation businesses.
1959
Acquisition of Croon & Co Klaas FibbeM&ABackground
Nationalization and political change were reducing the long-term scope of the original overseas utility business.
Action taken
OGEM acquired the electrical installation company Croon & Co Klaas Fibbe.
Aftermath
The transaction initiated a broader move into technical services.
1950
Rebrand as OGEMStrategyBackground
The company was moving into the postwar period with a broad overseas gas and electricity network and an increasingly changed political environment.
Action taken
It adopted the name Overzeese Gas- en Electriciteitsmaatschappij, or OGEM.
Aftermath
The new identity became associated with the group's later diversification beyond its original utility business.
Sources1 sources
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