The Transitgas Pipeline is a long natural

gas pipeline A pipeline is a system of pipes for long-distance transportation of a liquid or gas, typically to a market area for consumption. The latest data from 2014 gives a total of slightly less than of pipeline in 120 countries around the world. The Un ...

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

, which connects Trans Europa Naturgas Pipeline (TENP) from Wallbach at the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

border and

Gaz de France Gaz de France (GDF) was a French company which produced, transported and sold natural gas around the world, especially in France, its main market. The company was also particularly active in Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, and other Europea ...

gas grid from

Rodersdorf Rodersdorf is a municipality in the district of Dorneck in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland, on the border to Alsace, France. History Rodersdorf is first mentioned in 1226 as ''Ratolsdorf''. In 1349 it was mentioned as ''Roderstorff''. ...

/ Oltingue at the

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

border with the Snam Rete Gas S.p.A. owned gas grid in

Gries Pass Gries Pass (2469 m.) (Italian: ''Passo del Gries'', German: ''Griespass'') is a mountain pass between Valais, Switzerland and Formazza, Italy. There is no road over the pass, from Nufenen Pass the paved road ends and a bridle path leads over to t ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

History

The company owning the pipeline, Transitgas AG, was established in

Zurich Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...

on 25 June 1971. The first stage of pipeline between Wallbach and

Ruswil Ruswil is a municipality in the district of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. Geography Ruswil has an area of . Of this area, 72.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while 20.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 6.2% is set ...

came on stream in April 1974. In 1994, the second pipe was laid between Wallbach and

Lostorf Lostorf is a municipality in the district of Gösgen in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. History Lostorf is first mentioned around 1145-53 as ''de Loztorf''. Geography Lostorf has an area, , of . Of this area, or 37.7% is used for ag ...

. Between 1998 and 2003, the pipeline was extended to Italy and a compressor station was built in

. In 2001 the 55-kilometre long interconnection to France was commissioned.

Ownership

The pipeline is owned by Transitgas AG and operated by FluxSwiss 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 The European Commission (EC) is the primary Executive (government), executive arm of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with a number of European Commissioner, members of the Commission (directorial system, informall ...

DG Competition DG may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Death Grips, an American experimental hip hop group * DG (character), in the science fiction series ''Tin Man'' * Dial Global, a radio network * Dragon Gate, a Japanese professional wrestling promotion ...

in 2010, ENI divested from Transitgas AG in 2011 and sold its shares to the fully ownership unbundled Belgian Transmission System Operator

Fluxys Fluxys is a Belgium-based company, mainly acting as a natural gas transmission system operator. In 2004, it employed around 850 people and its infrastructure comprised about of pipelines and a terminal in Zeebrugge, Belgium. The company is list ...

, along with its shares in TENP pipeline system which links Belgium to the Transitgas Pipeline through Germany, for a total of €860 million.

Antitrust case

Since 2007, the

has been probing Eni's alleged restrictive practices on the TAG, Transitgas and TENP pipelines by limiting third parties access to the pipelines. The hearing is set for 27 November 2007.

References

External links

Transitgas AG

Transport – Transitgas system (Swissgas website)
{{Authority control Natural gas infrastructure Energy infrastructure completed in 1974 Natural gas pipelines in Switzerland