GasNet plans nearly CZK 6 billion in Czech gas distribution network investments this year

Gas company GasNet plans to invest nearly CZK 6 billion in its distribution network this year. It will focus on renovating trunk gas pipelines and local distribution networks, restoring infrastructure in municipalities flooded last year, and connecting new sources. GasNet announced this today in a press release sent to the Czech News Agency (ČTK). Other distributors are also planning investments in their gas networks.

GasNet supplies natural gas to households and businesses throughout the Czech Republic, with the exception of Prague and the South Bohemian Region. It manages 65,000 kilometres of gas pipelines and has more than 2.3 million customers. It therefore holds approximately an 80% share of gas distribution in Czechia.

„In 2025, we want to modernise more than 220 kilometres of gas pipelines, 32 regulator stations and other gas facilities. We are also continuing to prepare for the challenges associated with the decarbonisation of the Czech energy sector, such as the switch by heating plants and large energy sources to gas. In this context, we expect gas consumption to increase by 18 terawatt-hours by 2030,“ said GasNet CEO Andrzej Martynek, outlining this year’s plans.

According to him, the company also wants to continue digitalisation and improve efficiency, with the aim of making the use of gas infrastructure more attractive in terms of price for end customers.

This year, the company is planning 570 major construction projects in its distribution area. These include the renovation of shorter sections of local networks and trunk high-pressure gas pipelines. „In addition to these projects, we of course have dozens of other planned construction works across the country. This year, we will also focus on the internal inspection and cleaning of gas pipelines. We have identified more than 90 additional kilometres of gas network for this work,“ Martynek said.

According to him, GasNet is also gradually preparing for the growing share of so-called green gases in the network. It is therefore completing a project for its first hydrogen town in Hranice u Aše, where it will begin distributing a blend of natural gas and hydrogen this year. Another project involving hydrogen technologies is a gas industry training facility that the company is building in Pardubice. It will serve as a training and testing centre for gas workers and will also be available to other companies, firefighters and schools.

Gas Distribution, part of the E.ON Group, is also preparing to modernise its gas network. It covers distribution in South Bohemia and the Pelhřimov district in the Vysočina Region. „This year, we will invest a similar amount in renewing and modernising our gas network as we did last year,“ E.ON spokesperson Lubomír Budný told ČTK. According to its report for last year, the company invested nearly CZK 460 million in its gas pipeline network in 2024. Among the most significant investments planned for this year is the relocation of a gas pipeline near Hněvkov. A large share of the investment will also go towards renovating regulator stations in South Bohemia, including the underground regulator stations on Klaricova, Plzeňská and Háječek streets in České Budějovice, as well as conventional regulator stations in Protivín, Cerhonice and Dynín. Some local gas pipelines will also be renovated.

Last year, the majority stake in GasNet was acquired by energy group ČEZ, which bought more than 55% of the company from Macquarie Asset Management for EUR 846.5 million (over CZK 21.25 billion). The company’s other shareholders are Allianz and Canada’s BCI.

Other gas distributors in Czechia include Pražská plynárenská, which provides distribution in the capital, and Gas Distribution, part of the E.ON Group.