We are the 10 major European Gas distribution system operators from 8 EU Member states, leading the business at national level, serving over 35.5 million customers in Europe, operating 480,000 km of network and representing 35% of the EU's gas market.
We are the driving force behind the gas distribution network that we meticulously maintain, continuously develop and operate in safety to distribute natural and renewable gases to homes, businesses and communities.
What gas distribution means
3 main steps
The gas supply chain is segmented into three sectors which ensure the seamless flow, management and delivery of the resource to final consumers:
- The upstream or the exploration and production (E&P), including exploration, drilling of gas fields and extraction of the natural gas to the surface.
- The midstream, including transportation of natural gas through large-diameter and high-pressure pipelines from border entry points or Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminals to city and towns gateways. Transport system operators (TSOs) are responsible for operating the gas transport network. Midstream activities also include storage of natural gas in underground depleted reservoirs and salt caverns to balance seasonal demands, and trading of natural gas, with suppliers buying gas from producers on wholesale markets and selling it on retail markets to final customers.
- The downstream , including distribution of natural gas. Distribution system operators (DSOs) receive natural gas from long-haul pipelines and deliver it through their low-pressure distribution network to final consumers: industrial, commercial and private households. In addition, distributors add an odorizing agent, so that leaks are immediately recognizable.
Committed to playing its part in the decarbonisation of the EU economy, gas distributors are adapting their network to integrate clean energy sources, be they biomethane or hydrogen.
Gas value chain
Our vision
Today, gas grids do much more than simply connecting up supply, storage and demand; they are the backbone of the EU's energy system, delivering efficiency, reliability and flexibility.
In the future, gas grids will continue to play a crucial role in a fully integrated and clean European energy system, and they will support the EU in delivering its objectives of decarbonisation, affordability and energy security.
As gas distribution system operators (DSOs), we are committed to playing our role and will work with all our stakeholders, customers, suppliers and public authorities to maximise the benefits brought by our important assets.
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%
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million customers
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DSO companies
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kms of network
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European countries
Where we are
We are the leading natural gas distributors in France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Romania and the United Kingdom.
Together, we represent almost 47 million customers in Europe (more than 41% of the European market). Gas distributors are responsible for operating the gas distribution network, ensuring its maintenance, and its development. We are responsible for safely distributing natural and renewable gas to consumers.