The Transitgas Pipeline is a long natural

gas pipeline Pipeline transport is the long-distance transportation of a liquid or gas through a system of pipes—a pipeline—typically to a market area for consumption. The latest data from 2014 gives a total of slightly less than of pipeline in 120 countr ...

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

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

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

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 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 ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

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 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 sett ...

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 a ...

. 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 executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body o ...

DG Competition The Directorate-General for Competition (DG COMP) is a Directorate-General of the European Commission, located in Brussels. The DG Competition employs around 850 officials, as well as a number of seconded national officials, among other from nation ...

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 lis ...

, 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