Transitgas Pipeline
| Transitgas | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Switzerland |
| General direction | north-south |
| From | Wallbach, Rodersdorf |
| Passes through | Lostorf, Däniken, Ruswil |
| To | Gries Pass |
| General information | |
| Type | natural gas |
| Partners | Transitgas AG |
| Operator | Eni, Swissgas |
| Commissioned | 1974 |
| Technical information | |
| Length | 293 km (182 mi) |
| Maximum discharge | 35 billion cubic metres per year |
The Transitgas Pipeline is a 293-kilometre (182 mi) long natural gas pipeline in Switzerland, which connects Trans Europa Naturgas Pipeline (TENP) from Wallbach, Germany, and Gaz de France gas grid from Rodersdorf/Oltingue at the French-Swiss border with the Snam Rete Gas S.p.A. owned gas grid in Gries Pass, Italy.
History
The company owning the pipeline, Transitgas AG, was established in Zurich on 25 June 1971. The first stage of pipeline between Wallbach and Ruswil came on stream in April 1974. In 1994, the second pipe was laid between Wallbach and Lostorf. In 1998-2003, the pipeline was prolong to Italy and the compressor station was built in Ruswil. In 2001 the 55-kilometre long interconnection to France was commissioned.
Ownership
The pipeline is owned by Transitgas AG and operated by Eni Gas & Power CH SA and Swissgas AG. Transitgas AG was owned by Swissgas AG (51%), Eni International BV (46%), and E.ON Ruhrgas AG (3%). However, after settling antitrust proceedings with the European Commission's DG Competition in 2010,[1] ENI divested from Transitgas AG in 2011 and sold its shares to the fully ownership unbundled Belgian Transmission System Operator Fluxys, along with its shares in TENP pipeline system which links Belgium to the Transitgas Pipeline through Germany, for a total of €860 million.[2]
Antitrust case
Since 2007, the European Commission has been probing Eni's alleged restrictive practices on the TAG, Transitgas and TENP pipelines by limiting third parties access to the pipelines.[3] The hearing is set for 27 November 2007.[4]
References
- ↑ "Antitrust / ENI case: Commission opens up access to Italy's natural gas market". EU Commission. 2010-09-29. Retrieved 2013-10-29.
- ↑ "Eni and Fluxys G sign sale and purchase agreement for Eni’s interests in the TENP and Transitgas pipelines". Fluxswiss. 2011-09-22. Retrieved 2013-10-29.
- ↑ Paolo Biondi (2009-03-20). "Italy says Eni pipeline case is a security issue". Reuters. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
- ↑ Foo Yun Chee (2009-11-04). "Eni antitrust hearing set for Nov 27 - EU". Reuters. Retrieved 2009-11-13.