Germany’s closed shop

Despite six years of liberalisation, Germany’s gas market is still virtually closed to outside competition. Writing from Germany, Stella Farrington looks at whether new regulation is finally about to bring change

h As continental Europe’s largest gas consumer, sitting at the geographical heart of Europe, Germany – and the development of its gas market – are key to the expansion of the European market as a whole. Yet over six years after liberalisation, active gas trading is still little more than a theoretical concept.

However, new legislation and the appointment of a regulator could be about to bring