Berlin. The German gas transmission system operators, who make a key contribution to the security of supplies in Germany and Europe with their natural gas transmission systems, have joined forces to form an association – Vereinigung der Fernleitungsnetzbetreiber Gas e.V. The objective of the Association is to focus and coordinate technical interchange between the companies and to address politicians, the media and the public with a view to heightening their awareness for the issues of transmission system operators and the potential of natural gas networks in the era of energy transition.
The main topics of the Association at the national and European level will be the gas network development plan, which has been produced by transmission system operators since 2012, the joint capacity platform PRISMA and market area cooperation arrangements between the network companies.
The Executive Committee of the Association, which has been registered in the register of associations in Berlin, consists of Ralph Bahke, Managing Director of ONTRAS - VNG Gastransport GmbH (First Chairman), Dr. Axel Botzenhardt, Managing Director of Thyssengas GmbH (Deputy Chairman), Kay Borchelt, Managing Director of Gastransport Nord GmbH (Treasurer) and Nicolas Delaporte, Managing Director of GRTgaz Deutschland GmbH.
“Germany is committed to the energy transition. With our energy infrastructure and its potential as well as our network development plan, we are making an essential contribution to the success of the energy transition. By establishing this association, we intend to focus on technical interchange between the companies and to optimise the transfer of knowledge within society by presenting innovative ideas and speaking with one voice,” Chairman Ralph Bahke underscored.
The founding members of the association are bayernets GmbH, Fluxys TENP GmbH, GASCADE Gastransport GmbH, Gastransport Nord GmbH, Gasunie Deutschland Transport Services GmbH, GRTgaz Deutschland GmbH, jordgas Transport GmbH, Nowega GmbH, ONTRAS - VNG Gastransport GmbH, Open Grid Europe GmbH, terranets bw GmbH and Thyssengas GmbH. The members of the association will continue to actively support the objectives of Bundesverband der Energie und Wasserwirtschaft e.V. (BDEW), the national association of the entire German energy and water industry. In April 2013, the association will commence activities from its own office in Berlin.
