Fluxys Hydrogen, a subsidiary of gas pipeline operator Fluxys, has been appointed Belgium's first "hydrogen network operator," tasked with building and managing a national hydrogen pipeline grid. 

This marks a potential first move in the EU, where regulations for dedicated hydrogen network operators are still under development.

The appointment, granted for 20 years under Belgium's Federal Hydrogen Act, aims to jumpstart the development of a regional hydrogen network in anticipation of the upcoming EU Hydrogen and Gas Decarbonisation Package. 

Fluxys Hydrogen will be responsible for creating a pipeline network within Belgium, with the goal of connecting to neighboring countries like the Netherlands as part of the proposed European Hydrogen Backbone.

Tariffs on the network will be regulated by the national authority, and third-party access to the pipelines will be guaranteed. The project is financially supported by EU Covid recovery funds, and Fluxys has already begun market consultations to assess demand.

"Studies and preparations are being made to lay the first pipelines in the industrial clusters that have clearly expressed the need for hydrogen," Fluxys said.

The pipelines could also play a crucial role in importing green hydrogen to Europe under the H2Global program, where Germany has pledged €5bn ($5.36 billion) to subsidize imports. 

Ports like Antwerp and Rotterdam could become key delivery points for these green molecules, requiring further pipeline or road transport to customers.

While the Dutch gas pipeline operator Gasunie is tasked with building the Netherlands' hydrogen network, it remains unclear whether they have been officially designated as the country's "hydrogen network operator" due to the pending EU regulations.