Damage can run into millions. More gas pipelines are being damaged during excavation in Czechia

Starting to dig without checking where a gas pipeline runs can prove very costly for builders and companies. In 2025 alone, GasNet, the Czech Republic’s largest gas distributor, recorded 534 cases of damage to gas infrastructure by third parties. A further 250 cases have already been recorded in the first half of this year. The number of these incidents has risen for three years in a row. Their main cause is unprofessional excavation work, with digging done blind. Yet marking the pipeline route directly at the construction site is a free service that can easily be ordered online, helping to avoid risks and hefty penalties.

„When an excavator or even an ordinary pickaxe hits a gas pipeline, it is not just the pipe that is damaged. People’s health is particularly at stake. In addition, gas supplies may be temporarily cut off, and firefighters often have to respond alongside our gas engineers. Yet marking the route can prevent this mistake before it even happens,“ says Petr Koutný, GasNet’s chief operating officer.

For example, in mid-June, gas engineers and firefighters had to deal with a dangerous gas leak and fire in Kladno. The incident was caused by damage to a gas service pipe during excavation work at a family home. Firefighters had to cool nearby buildings, extinguish a burning tree, evacuate the residents of the house and hand one person over to emergency medical services.

GasNet’s gas engineers recorded almost 250 cases of third-party damage to gas pipelines in the first six months of this year. In addition to endangering health and property, each incident disrupts the daily lives of hundreds of people: gas outages, street closures and traffic restrictions are common effects on the surrounding area. There are also cases in which emergency services have to evacuate flats and houses.

A requirement, not a recommendation

Work near gas infrastructure is subject to clear legal rules. The developer is required to establish the location of gas infrastructure and ensure its protection. Despite this, excavation work is still sometimes started without any knowledge of what lies underground. This applies not only to construction workers and companies, but also, for example, to DIY enthusiasts working in their gardens.

„Every construction activity within a gas pipeline’s protection or safety zone requires the distributor’s consent. The Energy Act imposes this obligation on developers, and failure to comply is a clear breach of the law,“ explains Petr Koutný of GasNet.

What happens if you hit a gas pipeline

Responsibility for the damage always lies with the party that carried out the excavation work. Damage to a gas pipeline does not just mean the construction work has to stop. The distributor can seek to recover from the party responsible all costs associated with repairing the pipe, as well as compensation for the gas lost; the total can run into hundreds of thousands or even millions of crowns. In serious cases, incidents are referred to the Energy Regulatory Office (ERÚ), which can impose an administrative fine for failure to meet legal obligations. Negligence may also result in criminal liability for endangering the operation of a facility serving the public interest.

How to prevent an accident? Get the gas pipeline marked for free

Prevention is accessible, quick and free. The process starts on the distributor’s online portal (dpo.gasnet.cz), where the developer can request information on the presence of utility networks based on the project documentation. If a gas pipeline runs through the area, the next step is to order the marking service. A GasNet technician then comes directly to the construction site and marks the pipeline route precisely on the ground using reflective paint. This simple step is the most effective way to prevent accidents.

Gas emergency hotline: 1239

If a gas service pipe or gas pipeline is damaged during construction, call the 24/7 gas emergency hotline immediately on 1239, or call the fire brigade. The number is valid throughout the Czech Republic. Gas engineers investigate every call.

All the information and procedures you need can be found at gasnet.cz/vytyceni.