NEWS
Members’ corner This section of International Gas gives IGU members an opportunity to profile themselves and their relationship with the Union. In this issue we have a Q&A with Philippe Petitpierre, Vice Chairman of Charter Member Swissgas, who is also Chairman of Gaznat and Holdigaz, the latter being the gas distributor for Vevey where IGU is registered. International Gas (IG) Could you introduce readers to Swissgas and give a brief overview of the role of natural gas in Switzerland? Philippe Petitpierre (PhP) Natural gas has been developed in Switzerland since the 1970s, simul
c Philippe Petitpierre, Vice Chairman of Swissgas and Chairman of Gaznat and Holidaz. The painting behind him depicts work on the tunnel beneath the Alps for the Transitgas pipeline.
taneously with the setting up of the European transport network, a part of which crosses the Alps (the Transitgas pipeline system). Swissgas, founded in 1971 as a private limited company, is a joint procurement and transport platform for four regional shareholders (regional gas suppliers) and provides its services on their behalf. The Association of the Swiss Natural Gas Industry (Verband der Schweizerischen Gasindustrie – VSG) is also a shareholder. The Transitgas pipeline, originally built mainly for exports through Switzerland to Italy and inaugurated in 1974, underwent a major expansion programme between 1997 and 2002 to increase capacity with new strings and branches. Switzerland imports a large proportion of its gas (annual total sales 3.5 bcm) from this network. Gas covers some 13% of total Swiss energy consumption, which
80 Members’ corner
x The Transitgas compressor station at Ruswil. xv Switzerland’s network of gas filling stations covers the country.
