GasNet doubles capacity at key regulating station in northwestern Czechia and completes its largest investment in the region

GasNet, the largest gas distributor in the Czech Republic, has successfully completed a comprehensive modernisation of the strategic Bylany transfer regulating station in the Most area, along with related gas facilities. The facility’s capacity has increased to 450 thousand m³ of gas per hour, making it the most powerful station of its kind owned by the GasNet Group. The investment of more than 205 million crowns is the company’s largest project to date in northwestern Czechia. The project aims to strengthen the long-term stability of gas supplies and prepare the gas infrastructure for changes associated with the transformation and decarbonisation of the domestic energy sector.

Bylany station is a key part of the gas distribution infrastructure in the northwestern Czechia region. GasNet receives gas here from the transmission company NET4GAS, reduces its pressure to outlet levels of 3.8 MPa and 2.4 MPa, and then distributes it via high-pressure pipelines to surrounding areas—for example, the Most, Litvínov, Chomutov and Ústí nad Labem areas.

“The comprehensive reconstruction will significantly strengthen the reliability and security of gas supplies in the region. The station has the capacity to meet growing demand for gas across all segments—from households and businesses to large energy sources that are phasing out coal,” says Andrzej Martynek, CEO of the GasNet Group, adding: “This is our largest investment project to date in northwestern Czechia. It included a complete modernisation of the station’s mechanical systems, construction of a dedicated backup power source, replacement of 5 kilometres of high-pressure gas pipeline and technical modifications to other high-pressure pipelines. We have also prepared the station technologically for future needs, with a gradual increase in the share of renewable gases such as hydrogen planned over the long term.”

A challenging reconstruction with no disruption to supplies

Construction work began in 2021 and continued throughout without interrupting gas supplies to end customers. This placed high demands on the technical design of the entire investment. The use of modern materials and technologies was key to its success, including microtunnelling beneath a railway line and laying pipelines under bodies of water. This made it possible to route new pipelines safely and efficiently close to existing product pipelines operated by other companies.