Ballygowan first for natural gas link-up

Ballygowan first for natural gas link-up

2 November 2016

BALLYGOWAN households will be connected to a natural gas network within weeks.

The village is the first of 13 new areas to be connected to the Phoenix natural gas network as part of a £60m expansion project which began in April.

The towns and villages which will benefit from the expansion include Annahilt, Ballygowan, Ballynahinch, Castlewellan, Crossgar, Downpatrick, Dromore, Drumaness, Dundrum, Hillsborough, Newcastle, Saintfield and Spa.

Construction of the pipeline began in April starting in Ballygowan, which now has gas available with the first customers expected to be connected to the network in the next few weeks.

Ivan Bell, Director of Operations for Phoenix Natural Gas, said the company has an international reputation in developing natural gas networks and has already constructed 3,500 kilometres of natural gas pipelines to bring gas to over 330,000 homes and businesses in Northern Ireland.

“We are using the very latest construction techniques and equipment to bring the benefits of natural gas to a further 28,000 homes and businesses for the first time,” he said.

“Ballygowan is the first of the new towns to have fuel choice and the interest levels are already extremely positive.”

Economy Minister, Simon Hamilton MLA, welcomed gas being made live in Ballygowan. “This is great news for the people of Ballygowan. Expansion of the gas network brings additional energy choice to businesses, public sector, and domestic consumers. 

“My Department will continue to work with the Utility Regulator and gas industry to further expand the network across Northern Ireland.”