Transitgas AG constructs and operates this transport system with a compressor station, diverse slide-gate valve stations and a metering station on Swiss territory. As part of a leasing contract, the company has let the use of its plant to Fluxys SA and Swissgas AG.
About Us
The purpose of Transitgas AG is the construction, ownership maintenance and operation of a natural gas transport system, which runs from the northern border to the southern border of Switzerland.
The Interest Group
The Transitgas pipeline is the Swiss section of the high-pressure natural gas pipeline which connects the northern European gas fields with Italy. It represents an important step towards securing the supply of natural gas to the whole of Switzerland and at the same time, makes it possible for Italy to diversify its sources of supply.
In addition, the Transitgas pipeline fulfils a unique function in that it connects different countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, France and Switzerland together, to form a group with common interests and purposes.
Our Shareholders
Swissgas AG, a Swiss public limited company located in Zurich, Fluxswiss sagl, located in Paradiso (Lugano), and Uniper Global Commodities AG, located in Dusseldorf, hold, respectively, 51, 46 and 3% of the registered capital of Transitgas AG.
Brief History
Transitgas AG located in Zurich, was founded on June 25, 1971. The present-day Transitgas transport system was created in three phases: the start of construction at the beginning of the 1970s, the expansion in the mid-1990s and the major expansion completed in 2003.
Construction1971 - 1974
Following a planning and construction phase of around three years, the 164 km Transitgas pipeline was officially inaugurated on April 8, 1974. From Germany, the pipeline crosses the Rhine and reaches the metering station in Wallbach. It runs on through the central region towards the south, navigates the Alps through various tunnels and reaches Italy at the Gries Pass.
The compressor station was built at Ruswil, approximately halfway between Germany and Italy. The diameter of the pipeline from the Rhine to the compressor station was 36″* and to the south as far as the Gries Pass 34″. The quantities transported via Wallbach during the first 20 years of operation averaged between 5 and 7 billion Nm3**/J.
* 1 inch = 2.54 cm
** Nm3 (normal cubic meter) = volume at 0°C and 1013.25 mbar
Expansion 1993-1994
To provide for the growing demand for natural gas in Switzerland, the transport system between Wallbach and Däniken was expanded in 1994 by a 33 km long 36”* parallel pipeline (loop). Commissioning of this new section was made in the autumn of the same year.
Mayor Expansion 1997-2003
In order to cater for increasing demand for natural gas in Italy the Board of Directors of Transitgas AG decided on March 17, 1997 to expand the complete transport system. Basically this expansion included the following work:
1. Replacement of the existing 34”* pipeline between the Ruswil compressor station and the Gries Pass with a new 48” pipeline
2. Connection to France by laying a new 36” pipeline from Rodersdorf to Lostorf
3. Construction of a new 48” pipeline parallel to the existing 36” pipeline between Däniken and the compressor station in Ruswil
4. Construction of a new 36” pipeline parallel to the 36” pipeline between the Rhine and the Wallbach metering station
5. Increase of the installed performance of the Ruswil compressor station
6. Adaptation of the metering equipment of the Wallbach station to cope with the increased flow
Pursuant to statutory requirements in the canton of Lucerne, two waste heat recovery plants were installed in the Ruswil compressor station with which the waste heat from the gas turbines could be used to generate power or produce hot water.
Thanks to an investment of 1.1 billion Swiss francs, the existing transport capacity was able be almost tripled. In 2003 the total transported volume of natural gas from Wallbach and Rodersdorf amounted to 15.7 billion Nm3**. Thanks to the inclusion of the new connecting pipeline from France into the north-south transport pipeline from northern Europe, diversification of the Transitgas transport system sources of supply was increased.
* 1 inch = 2.54 cm
** Nm3 (normal cubic meter) = volume at 0°C and 1013.25 mbar
2014
Swissgas Offtake
With the implementation of the Swissgas offtake project, Swissgas demand at the delivery station in Ruswil can be met at any time simply by commissioning a small solar compressor unit.
2018
Obergesteln
In Obergesteln, a control system was added to the slide-gate valve station.
2017
Reverse Flow
Construction work for the reverse flow project got underway in spring 2017 after almost 7 years of project planning, modifications and detailed engineering. The project was successfully completed in late autumn 2017. Liquidity between the gas trading hubs is now promoted by the south-north flows in both directions.