1972
27 March, Dansk Naturgas A/S is founded (Danish Natural Gas, DNG).
1973
2 December, DNG changes its name to Dansk Olie og Naturgas A/S (Danish Oil and Natural Gas, DONG).
1979
The Danish Parliament decides to introduce natural gas in Denmark. The planning of the natural gas distribution net is initiated. DONG is allocated the exclusive rights for import, trade, transmission, and storage of natural gas in Denmark. The company enters into its first natural gas contract with the Danish Underground Consortium. The first of a total of five municipally owned regional distribution companies is established to handle the sale of natural gas to small and medium sized consumers.
1981
DONG founds Dansk Olierør A/S which begins the construction of an oil pipeline from the North Sea to Fredericia, Denmark.
1984
The pipeline from the North Sea to Fredericia is completed and transportation starts on 1 May. The law concerning DONG’s placement in the explorations licensees goes into effect. In the first tender round, DONG becomes part of eight groups of oil companies jointly awarded 16 exploration licensees.
The Danish Underground Consortium begins delivery on 1 October. Queen Margrethe of Denmark opens the valve at the inauguration at Nybro Gasbehandlingsanlæg.
1987
DONG opens its first subterranean natural gas storage facility in Ll.Torup.
1994
DONG opens its second subterranean natural gas storage facility. It is situated at Stenlille, Denmark, close to Sorø.
1997
DONG purchases 10% of the shares in the Swedish company Vattenfall Naturgas AB.
1998
DONG, Statoil, Phillips, and Nunaoil are awarded an exploration licence in Western Greenland.
The Lulita field in the North Sea goes into production. For the first time ever, DONG becomes a manufacturer of oil and natural gas in Denmark with a 13.6% share in the field.
1999
The Siri and the Syd Arne fields are put into production. DONG purchases the municipally owned distribution company Naturgas Syd. The company takes part in two licenses in the Dutch and German part of the North Sea, close to the Danish border. DONG participates in a consortium, preparing exploration licensees close to the Faroe Islands and along the boundary between the United Kingdom and the Faroe Islands.
2002
DONG buys Statoil’s explorations and production activities in Denmark and becomes the operator of the Siri field. The company buys 16% of the shares in the electric company NESA. DONG becomes the lead investor in the venture foundation “New Energy Solutions”, focusing on renewable energy and new energy forms.
January 2003
DONG acquires a 64% share in EnergiGruppen Jylland, which owns 3.1% of Elsam.
October 2003
Elsam acquires 78.8% of NESA at a price valuing NESA at DKK 10.5 billion, subsequently leading to the purchase of NESA.
March 2004
EnergiGruppen Jylland buys approximately 6% of the shares in Elsam, bringing its stake to roughly 9%.
June 2004
DONG increases its share in Elsam to 17.7%, an increase of 8.9%.
August 2004
DONG purchases additional shares in Elsam through EnergiGruppen Jylland, bringing the total DONG share to around 24%.
December 2004
On 10 December, DONG and Elsam announce their planned merger.
February 2005
DONG purchases Københavns Energi’s (KE) electricity activities. The agreement includes KE’s 34% share of Energi E2. The combined cost will be DKK 10.5 billion.
DONG also purchases Frederiksberg Forsyning and their 2.26% stake in Energi E2 for DKK 1 billion in cash, plus 3.63% of the shares in Energi E2 from four municipalities DKK 617 million in cash.
May 2005
Vattenfall, which owns 35 % of the shares in Elsam, and DONG announce that they plan to split assets in Elsam and Energi E2. Three central plants (Amagerværket, Fynsværket and Nordjyllandsværket), two decentralised gas-fired plants in Zealand, a portfolio of Danish and international wind activities, and a 30% stake in a German wind development is transferred to Vattenfall. DONG receives Vattenfall’s 35% stake in Elsam and 40% stake in the Avedøre 2 power plant.
March 2006
EU competition authorities approve the merger plans that will result in the creation of DONG Energy. The approval is conditional upon the divestiture of one of DONG’s two gas-storage facilities. The 132 kV transmission grid in northern Zealand also has to be divested.
July 2006
The DONG Energy merger is complete. 27% of the shares in DONG shift from the Danish State to nine utility companies. Their ownership of assets involved in the merger puzzle make them shareholders in the new DONG Energy.
August 2006
DONG Energy announces the sale of the Lille Torup gas storage facility to Energinet.dk, effective from May 2007. The selling price is DKK 2 billion.
August 2007
DONG Energy divests its Spanish renewables portfolio (former subsidiary of Energi E2) to E.ON. The selling price is EUR 722 million.