OUR GAS BUSINESS

Our gas businesses are key players in Northern Ireland’s energy industry, owning and managing the sub-sea Scotland/Northern Ireland gas pipeline (SNIP) through which the vast majority of the gas consumed in Northern Ireland flows, as well as the main gas transmission pipeline bringing gas from Islandmagee to the greater Belfast area and to the west of Northern Ireland.

All our pipelines operate under an ‘open access’, non-discriminatory commercial framework.

Premier Transmission Limited is the owner and operator of the Scotland to Northern Ireland natural gas transmission pipeline. The 24-inch diameter pipeline is 135km long, running from Twynholm in Scotland to Ballylumford in Northern Ireland. The pipeline was constructed over a period of three years between 1994-1996. The pipeline transports gas to Ballylumford power Station (which generates a substantial proportion of Northern Ireland’s energy needs) and feeds the Greater Belfast natural gas distribution system via the Belfast Gas Transmission Pipeline.

Belfast Gas Transmission Limited owns the Belfast Gas Transmission Pipeline system. This consists of 26km of 600mm “cross country” pipeline connected to the SNIP pipeline at Ballylumford, as well as above ground installations at Torytown, where pressure is reduced before exiting the system and Middle Division, where the North West Pipeline connects. In addition there are two underwater pipelines, a 9km, 60mm pipeline across Belfast Lough and a 3km, 200mm pipeline across Larne Lough, both supplying the downstream gas markets.

The pipeline was constructed between 1995-1998.

The newest asset in our group is the West Transmission pipeline which was completed in January 2020, bringing natural gas to major towns in the western area of Northern Ireland. The project commenced when the group won a competitive tender process triggered by the Department for the Economy, and Mutual Energy, along with our project partner SGN Natural Gas, were awarded licenses by the Utility Regulator in 2015 to build and operate high pressure and low pressure gas pipelines to extend the natural gas network to the towns of Cookstown, Dungannon, Derrylin, Enniskillen, Magherafelt, Omagh and Strabane.

Mutual Energy, through its subsidiary West Transmission Limited, is responsible for the high pressure delivery of gas to the key towns and owns the West Transmission Pipeline, a 78km cross country high pressure pipeline from Portadown to Fivemiletown with three offtakes to deliver gas to all targeted town gates, and the pressure reduction station at Maydown essential to the supply of gas to Strabane.

For more information about the Gas to the West project from its inception, please read our case study.

GAS
NETWORK

Mutual Energy, via three subsidiary companies (Premier Transmission Ltd., Belfast Gas Transmission Ltd., and West Transmission Ltd.) operates a significant gas transmission business which includes the Scotland – Northern Ireland pipeline (SNIP), the Belfast Gas Transmission pipeline from Islandmagee to Belfast and the Gas to the West transmission pipeline from Portadown to Fivemiletown.

Mutual Energy has, to date, achieved 100% availability on these important assets.

The gas transmission market in Northern Ireland is operated under an ‘open access’, non-discriminatory commercial framework by the Gas Market Operator for Northern Ireland (GMO NI), on behalf of Mutual Energy and GNI(UK), Northern Ireland’s other gas transmission owner. GMO NI provides a ‘one stop shop’ for the commercial activities of the TSOs.

TARIFFS

How much does it cost?

Tariff calculation is based on allowable revenue, as agreed with the Utility Regulator, and forecast demand. For further information on current, future and historic tariffs and how they are calculated, please see the GMO NI website

CONNECTING

Connecting to the High Pressure Transmission System

Connecting to the High Pressure Gas Transmission System is suitable for large consumers such as distribution networks, power stations and gas storage facilities.

To discuss your project requirements, please contact Mutual Energy to see how we can help with your connection enquiry.

Mutual Energy Limited do not provide connections for Domestic Properties, please contact your local Gas Distribution Network for such a connection.

BIOMETHANE CONNECTIONS

If you are a biomethane producer and interested in connecting your facilities to the transmission network, please contact us to discuss your project. To find out more about biomethane connections into the Northern Ireland Gas Network click the button below:

HOW DO I BECOME A SHIPPER?

Shippers intending to transport gas through the NI Transportation System are required to accede to the NI Network Gas Transmission Code, which is approved by the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR), and can be viewed on the GMO NI website.

For further information, prospective shippers can contact the team by emailing ShipperCommunications@Mutual-Energy.com