ARNHEM, 12/12/06 - TenneT, the manager of the Dutch high-tension network, is to construct a new electricity link between the Netherlands and Germany in partnership with German energy company RWE. The new line will make it possible to import cheaper electricity from Germany.

Dutch electricity is relatively expensive because much is generated using natural gas, the price of which is linked to oil. High energy consumption companies are thus put at a competitive disadvantage. "Increasing import capacity is of great importance for Dutch industry," TenneT said yesterday in announcing the partnership.

TenneT and RWE will together invest about 70 million euros in the high-tension connection, which will have import capacity of between 1,000 and 2,000 megawatts. Current import capacity from Germany is 2,500 megawatts. The new 60-kilometre line will lie between the towns of Doetinchem and Wesel.

The line is expected to be operational in 2013 at the earliest. The lengthy time taken relates to the licensing procedure that has to be gone through. The actual construction will take one year.