GasNet plans to restore gas supplies to most of Czechia's Jesenik region by the end of October

GasNet, the largest gas distributor in the Czech Republic, is working intensively to restore the gas network in the Jesenik region, which was damaged on an unprecedented scale by the recent floods. While supplies have already been restored in some areas, elsewhere the extent of the damage to the network and devastated roads are significantly hampering the work. Even so, the company plans to reconnect most households and businesses to gas by the end of October. This is a very ambitious plan. Cooperation with other network operators and managers of roads and waterways will be crucial to meeting the October deadline. Cooperation from customers is also important.

Jesenik and its surroundings are the area worst affected in terms of gas network operations.

„This is the most extensive damage to gas infrastructure we have ever recorded in our distribution area. The water tore out a large number of gas service lines, while landslides exposed and ruptured a large part of the underground pipeline network. In Jesenik alone, the swollen rivers swept away all but one of the above-ground gas crossings. The devastating floods put a total of 278 km of pipelines out of operation, and we must carry out special inspections on a further 374 km of pipelines,“ explains Petr Koutný, GasNet's network operations director.

Nevertheless, GasNet's gas technicians are managing to connect more customers every day. „In Jesenik alone, we have already restored supplies to almost 1 800 connection points. We have restored supplies to the Jesenik hospital, the Social Services Centre, the children's centre and Schroth's Spa in Dolní Lipová. Gas is also back in Jindřichov and Nové Losiny. We have restored service to almost all of Vápenná, half of Bělá pod Pradědem, a third of connection points in Písečná and dozens in Lipová-Lázně

Floods in the Jesenik region. Source: GasNet

Restoring supplies in the hardest-hit areas is being significantly hampered, among other things, by the condition of the ground. The devastating floods literally washed away entire roads and pavements. As a result, technicians often have nowhere safe to lay the new gas pipelines. Repairs also frequently involve the technologically challenging task of pumping water out of flooded pipes.

Ambitious plan: restore most supplies by the end of October

Despite the extremely difficult conditions, GasNet aims to restore gas supplies to most households in the Jesenik region by the end of October. Repairs in the hardest-hit areas, such as Mikulovice and Česká Ves, may continue into November. GasNet staff are coordinating the restoration work with local authorities, with whom they are in regular contact.

In the city of Jesenik itself, the company is working to gradually bring supplies back online sector by sector.

„We have divided our network here into four medium-pressure and eight low-pressure sections, which we plan to bring back into operation gradually over the course of October. Our goal is to get gas to the district heating plant and the boiler rooms in the housing estates as soon as possible,“ says Koutný, adding: „This is a very ambitious plan. In such difficult conditions, we also have to take into account a number of unpredictable factors. Meeting the deadline does not depend solely on our work. We have to coordinate our actions with other network operators and the managers of roads and waterways. We are also preparing contingency options for supplying gas from mobile storage units containing compressed or liquefied gas. But I believe we all share the same goal—to repair and restore this much-needed infrastructure as quickly as possible. I can say on behalf of GasNet that we are doing everything we can to make that happen as soon as possible. There is still a lot of work ahead of us.“

GasNet has reinforced its teams across the Jesenik region with technicians from unaffected areas, such as eastern Bohemia and South Moravia.

Practical information for customers

A general prerequisite for restoring supplies to a connection point is ensuring the safe operation of the customer's gas equipment—gas appliances such as a boiler or stove, and the property's internal gas pipes.

The distribution company operates the gas network, which ends before the main gas shut-off valve (HUP). The distributor is responsible for repairing and bringing back into operation the gas pipeline, service lines, regulator stations and other parts of the distribution system. Customer gas equipment (gas appliances such as a boiler or stove, and the property's internal gas pipes) is owned by the property owner, who is also responsible for its operation.

The condition of any internal gas installation that has been underwater must always be checked by a specialist company: a gas service provider or a plumbing and heating company, which will arrange repairs to gas equipment as necessary.

In areas where gas is due to be let back into the pipelines, GasNet staff directly close the main gas shut-off valves (HUP). It is important that no one tamper with a secured and closed HUP.

This is what a closed HUP looks like—it is sealed with tape bearing the GN/GasNet logo and brief information. The marking on a closed HUP looks the same whether it is located in a basement, in a cabinet at the property boundary or on the facade. Source: GasNet

Helpline 1239 and information on the distributor's website

If people smell the distinctive odor of gas, they should always contact the gas emergency and fault helpline on 1239. The gas distributor publishes information about communities where supplies are shut off and other procedures on its website at gasnet.cz/povodne.