NACE 06.2 – Extraction of Natural Gas | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 06.2 covers the extraction of natural gas, including processing to merchantable gas, liquefaction to LNG and the recovery of liquid gas (NGL) as a by-product of gas production. The group also includes coalbed methane and mine gas.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 06.2 cover?

NACE 06.2 (Extraction of natural gas) classifies companies engaged in gas production and processing — a sector classified as a utility sector in public procurement law and therefore subject to special procedural rules.

Group 06.2 within Section B (Mining and quarrying) and Division 06 (Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas) is broken down into the following classes:

Public contracting authorities relating to NACE 06.2 are state-owned and state-affiliated gas extraction and distribution companies, national gas-network operators, regulators and authorities awarding exploration licences.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 06.2

Natural-gas extraction is a classical utility sector — publicly controlled gas companies regularly tender drilling services, plant engineering, LNG infrastructure and safety technology EU-wide.

Typical types of contract

• Gas drilling and completion works: Production drilling, horizontal drilling, gas-well repairs
• Gas processing plants: H2S scrubbers, dryers, gas cleaning plants, compressor stations
• LNG infrastructure: Liquefaction plants, LNG tank farms, regasification plants, filling stations
• Pipeline infrastructure: Long-distance gas pipelines, gathering stations, pig traps, pressure-regulation installations
• SCADA and control technology: Remote-control systems, gas-flow measurement, process-control systems
• Safety and environment: Gas detection, emergency-shutdown systems, well plugging, emissions monitoring

Thresholds and procedure types

Natural-gas extraction and transport are utility sectors under Directive 2014/25/EU. The EU threshold for supply and service contracts is EUR 431,000, for works contracts EUR 5,538,000 (as of 2024/2025). Utility contracting entities can choose between the open procedure, restricted procedure and negotiated procedure with prior call for competition.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 06.2

CPV codes enable targeted searches for gas production and gas infrastructure tenders on European platforms.

Current tenders can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Who is NACE 06.2 relevant for in procurement law?

Public contracting authorities

In Austria, RAG Austria AG (Rohöl-Aufsuchungs AG, indirectly state-affiliated) is the most important gas production company and qualifies as a utility contracting entity. In Germany, Verbundnetz Gas AG (VNG) and state-controlled companies act as relevant contracting authorities. Gas-network operators such as GRTgaz, Fluxys, Gaz-System or ONTRAS tender infrastructure services as utility contracting entities. In the wake of the energy-security debate, EU states are increasingly investing in LNG terminals and gas storage facilities — with corresponding tender volumes.

Companies and bidders

Bidders in natural-gas extraction and related infrastructure typically require:

• Authorisation: Mining-law approvals, DVGW certifications (gas and water), ÖVE/ÖVGW conformity
• Technical capacity: References for comparable gas installations, drilling projects or gas-pipeline construction
• Economic capacity: Professional liability cover, sufficient equity
• Certifications: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ATEX conformity for explosion-protected zones

NACE 06.2 in context: Section B and Division 06

NACE 06.2 is part of Division 06 (Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas) — a utility sector with its own procurement rules and growing importance for European energy security.

• NACE B – Mining and quarrying: Parent section
• NACE 06.1 – Extraction of crude petroleum: Related group, crude-oil extraction
• NACE 09.1 – Support activities for petroleum and natural-gas extraction: Drilling and maintenance services
• NACE 05.2 – Mining of lignite: Further fossil-energy raw-material extraction

Frequently Asked Questions about NACE 06.2 and Public Tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 06.2? Companies predominantly engaged in gas extraction and processing. Pure gas-network operators without their own production are classified under NACE 35 (energy supply) but are nonetheless subject to utilities procurement law.

Why does utilities procurement law apply to gas companies? Because gas production and transport are defined as utility activities in Annex II of Directive 2014/25/EU. Contracting authorities that extract gas or operate gas networks are therefore subject to the more flexible — but still binding — rules of utilities procurement law.

How relevant is NACE 06.2 in view of the energy transition? Gas remains relevant as a bridge energy carrier and increasingly as hydrogen infrastructure. Tenders for the conversion of gas pipelines to hydrogen, H2-ready components and green LNG are gaining in importance.

How do I search for tenders in the gas sector? On TED with CPV code 09123000 (natural gas) and 45213320 (gas distribution installations). National gas-network operators also publish tenders on their own procurement portals.

Last updated: January 2026 All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.