Gas to the West – the Project

Following an open competitive process, Mutual Energy Limited and SGN were awarded licences by the Utility Regulator for Northern Ireland to build and operate the high pressure and low pressure gas pipelines which will extend the natural gas network into the west of Northern Ireland. This significant gas network extension will bring the very considerable benefits of natural gas to the towns of Coalisland, Cookstown, Derrylin, Dungannon, Enniskillen, Magherafelt, Omagh and Strabane in the immediate years ahead.

The first phase of the project saw the construction of a new gas pipeline to connect the Strabane area with the existing gas transmission network at Maydown, Derry/Londonderry, where a new pressure reduction station has been sited. The first industrial customer (LacPatrick at Artigarvan) has now been connected and the new distribution network continues to be rolled out in Strabane, with the first domestic customers now using gas in their homes.

With full planning permission having been secured in mid 2017, the main works contractor for Gas to the West (Murphy GMC and Roadbridge) was appointed and the major construction phase of this £250 million infrastructure project got underway in October 2017. Murphy GMC and Roadbridge are responsible for the specialist engineering and construction of 200km of gas pipelines in the Cookstown, Coalisland, Derrylin, Dungannon, Enniskillen, Magherafelt and Omagh areas. SGN Natural Gas is scheduled to deliver mains gas and meters to 40,000 customers over the next 40 years in eight main towns in the western area. The investment in Gas to the West will support around 200 jobs during the construction phase and the new gas infrastructure is expected to sustain a significant number of ongoing jobs for installation sub-contractors and other related functions.

For information on connecting to natural gas visit SGN Natural Gas by clicking here

For up to date information on roadworks in your area visit SGN Natural Gas by clicking here


Benefits of natural gas

There are very significant benefits associated with the availability of gas in any particular area.

Natural gas is:

  • The cleanest fossil fuel – best for the environment
  • Competitive and quiet
  • Reliable and a constant supply
  • Easy to budget
  • Versatile, convenient, controllable
  • Energy efficient – save money with natural gas appliances and heating controls
  • Often a pre-requisite for other industrial investment

Jobs

The £250m investment in Gas to the West will support around 200 jobs during the construction phase. Thereafter the new gas infrastructure will sustain a significant number of ongoing jobs for installation sub-contractors and other related functions.

News

PRESS RELEASE - Arrival of natural gas in west celebrated at official launch event
16th January 2020

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Gas to the West Construction Film
16th January 2020

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11th edition of Gas to the West newsletter published
6th September 2018

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PRESS RELEASE: £200 million gas network investment to benefit customers
3rd August 2018

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10th edition of Gas to the West newsletter published
9th April 2018

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Dates announced for public information sessions on Gas to the West
12th February 2018

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2017: A busy year for Gas to the West
20th December 2017

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9th edition of Gas to the West newsletter published
18th December 2017

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8th edition of Gas to the West newsletter published
3rd October 2017

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Gas to the West Stakeholders’ Meeting Dungannon - video
20th June 2017

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Gas to the West - Next Steps
15th June 2017

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Presentation at the Gas to the West Construction Phase launch, 14 June 2017
15th June 2017

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7th edition of Gas to the West newsletter published
14th June 2017

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6th edition of Gas to the West newsletter published
16th February 2017

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‘Gas to the West’ project reaches first major milestone
6th February 2017

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5th edition of Gas to the West newsletter published
25th October 2016

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PRESS RELEASE: Gas to the West project reaches important milestone
21st October 2016

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4th edition of Gas to the West newsletter published
6th June 2016

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3rd edition of Gas to the West project newsletter published
24th March 2016

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Dates announced for 2nd phase of Pre Application Community Consultation (PACC)
7th March 2016

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2nd edition of GTTW newsletter published
23rd December 2015

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Delivery Underway in Strabane
12th November 2015

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1st edition of GTTW newsletter published
19th October 2015

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VIDEO - Public information event underway in Enniskillen – come along and meet the team!
8th October 2015

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Dates announced for public information events
24th September 2015

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Minister formally ‘launches’ GTTW at public event in Enniskillen
4th March 2015

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Utility Regulator publishes GTTW final decision paper and licences
11th February 2015

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Utility Regulator decides on preferred applicant for GTTW
18th December 2014

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MEL and SGN announced as preferred applicants in GTTW competition
12th August 2014

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High pressure operational business plan published
12th August 2014

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Low pressure operational business plan published
12th August 2014

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Gas to the West licence application process launched
6th February 2014