Trade and network

Operation and maintenance

Ensuring the smooth operation of high-pressure installations.

Network operation relies on the rigorous monitoring and ongoing maintenance of all critical components, from delivery stations to underground pipelines. Gaznat guarantees optimum levels of safety and availability through a range of specialized technical interventions based on a rich variety of professions.

Delivery station maintenance

In delivery stations, pressure regulation, filtering and gas preheating equipment are regularly maintained to guarantee safety and continuity of service. Gaznat also assists federal inspectors with the annual inspection of all installations.

Cathodic protection of gas pipelines

Gas pipelines are long metal pipes buried in the ground. To prevent them from rusting over time, a method called cathodic protection is used. This involves sending a weak electric current over the surface of the pipes to prevent corrosion. This system is regularly inspected throughout the network, and equipment is constantly maintained to ensure it is in good working order.

Electrotechnical maintenance and metrology

Electrotechnical installations are the subject of rigorous attention: systems enabling remote control, particularly of valves, and data transmission are maintained by our specialists. Every year, a regulatory inspection (OIBT) is carried out on all installations, along with the calibration of instruments measuring gas quality and metering.

Transport and delivery

Transporting gas reliably and redundantly throughout the country.

In order to supply Western Switzerland in the required quantities and on time, Gaznat's transmission network relies on a set of interconnected high-pressure infrastructures.

Compressor stations

To transport gas over long distances, it is maintained at high pressure - up to 80 bar. The Ruswil compressor station compresses gas from north-western Switzerland via the Transitgas pipeline, enabling it to be injected into the Gaznat network.

Customs posts

The role of customs posts is to measure and control all energy movements imported into our service area. The customs posts at La Cure, La Louvière and Bardonnex handle western supplies (from France), while the posts at Ruswil and Obergesteln receive gas from Europe's north-south axis, via the Transitgas network. This double interconnection enhances the flexibility and security of supply of the Gaznat network.

Gas pipelines

Gas is transported at high pressure (approx. 35 - 65 bar) in almost 600 km of underground pipelines with diameters ranging from 10" (25 cm) to 24" (60 cm). The pipes are welded together and covered with a minimum of one meter of earth. Each pipe is protected against corrosion by an outer coating (polyethylene or bitumen) and an active cathodic protection system. The meshed structure (looping, redundancy) of the transmission network guarantees the supply of Western Switzerland in the event of the unavailability of an entry point or technical installation. It should be noted that Gaznat operates two underwater pipelines, laid at depths of up to 300m in Lake Geneva.

Isolating stations and PDC

Isolating stations throughout the network enable any section to be isolated in the event of a leak, rupture or damage. Controlled remotely, they guarantee the safety of the entire network.

Pressure reduction and metering stations (PDC) reduce the pressure (to 5 bar) and accurately measure the volume, energy and quality of the gas transported. This gas is then delivered to the end consumer via the low-pressure networks of our partners, the local distribution networks.

Network monitoring and control

Secure, intelligent control.

The entire transmission network is subject to enhanced monitoring, thanks to a combination of sensors, automated alerts and real-time transmission. This supervision infrastructure makes it possible to detect incidents immediately, control valves remotely, and ensure the integrity of the network day and night, 365 days a year.

Infrastructure development

Designing, reinforcing and adapting the network to future challenges.

The development of the transmission network is handled by the Engineering Department, which functions as a veritable in-house design office. This department is responsible for planning, building and commissioning all new infrastructures linked to the high-pressure gas network.

The department's main tasks:
- Construction of new gas pipelines
- Construction or conversion of delivery stations
- Work required to adapt or operate the network, including relocation of existing pipelines.

These activities are part of a regularly updated master plan, which covers a rolling 10-year period and anticipates future infrastructure needs to keep pace with changing demand and the energy transition.

Gaznat also offers engineering services for third parties, such as the construction of pressure-reducing and metering stations (PDC) for distribution network operators or industrial sites. In this context, Gaznat acts as prime contractor, from the definition of specifications, through coordination of the work, to final testing and delivery of the structure.

This approach, which mobilizes the skills of all our teams and draws on a wide range of professions, guarantees a high quality of execution, in compliance with regulatory requirements and safety standards.

The network of tomorrow

Combining safety, sustainability and innovation.

To meet the challenges of the energy transition, Gaznat is innovating and preparing a network capable of accommodating new energy carriers. Our priorities include integrating renewable gases, optimizing the network, ensuring interoperability between infrastructures and adapting to future industrial needs.