Cross-Border Gas Transport Co-operation ─ Czech Republic / Germany RWE Transgas Net, s.r.o. – ONTRAS – VNG Gastransport GmbH
The two European gas transmission system operators RWE Transgas Net, Czech Republic and ONTRAS - VNG Gastransport GmbH, Germany plan to conjointly provide access and additional services to cross-border gas transmission capacity for major interconnection points for the entire region from the Slovakian-Czech border to Steinitz in Germany. Key instrument is a common IT-platform for the transport settlement of interested traders and shippers with effect from August 1st, 2007.
The partnership will be presented to potential customers via an online platform under the common name GATRAC (Gas Transport Cooperation). On the internet presence clients can benefit from all relevant information that will be made available about the harmonized products and several related services. The customers will have the opportunity to transport gas through the important transit routes to Western Europe, involving the transit routes Lanžhot-Steinitz and Waidhaus-Steinitz in both directions, without requesting for the cross-border interconnection point Hora Svaté Kateřiny.
Mutual co-operation of two adjacent transmission system operators in marketing of capacity will simplify the cross-border transport between the Czech Republic and Germany, both members of the European Union. The joint project contributes to the European efforts to establish an internal gas market. Furthermore, the new tool helps to improve transparency by indicating available capacity as well as tariff systems and other indications over several networks by providing a facilitated access to the transmission system operators´ information.
Both collaboration companies are considering extending their partnership by leaving the doors open for other connected transmission system operators to join the transit co-operation in the future. From August 1st, 2007 the platform can be found under: www.gatrac.com.
ONTRAS – VNG Gastransport GmbH
Stefanie Mrázek
Grid Marketing
T +49 341 443 – 2153
E: info@ontras.com
ONTRAS – VNG Gastransport GmbH is a supra-regional gas transport logistics company operating a network spanning over 7,000 kilometres of high-pressure pipelines which forms part of the European gas grid and providing all services related to gas transportation. As a market area-wide network operator in the market area of ONTRAS, which includes 153 network operators and spans the five states in the eastern part of Germany, the company also performs key functions concerning the smooth handling of gas transportation based on the cooperation agreement for this market area.
RWE Transgas Net, s.r.o.
Mgr. Jitka Kadavá,
PR
T 267 973 260
E: jitka.kadava@rwe.cz
RWE Transgas Net, s.r.o., is part of the multinational utility group RWE. The company was established on 1 January 2006 when natural gas transmission and trade were unbundled pursuant to the Czech Energy Act. RWE Transgas Net, s.r.o., is an independent company responsible for safe and reliable domestic transmission of natural gas and natural gas transit to other countries.
Natural gas transmitted by RWE Transgas Net, s.r.o., in the Czech Republic uses a pipeline system of 3,642 km. Natural gas is the most environmentally friendly of all renewable energy sources. Unlike solid fuels, natural gas burns cleanly, i.e. without ash and environmentally hazardous substances.