The Utility Regulator today publishes its decision on the preferred applicant for the competitive licence to extend the gas network to the west of Northern Ireland.
We have carried out an assessment against the criteria determined by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and have also consulted on the preferred applicant.
Our decision for the preferred and a reserve applicant for each licence is set out below:
Preferred applicant:
High pressure – Northern Ireland Energy Holdings (Mutual Energy Ltd)
Low pressure – Scotia Gas Networks
Reserve applicant:
High pressure – BGE UK
Low pressure – firmus
The final stage in the process is the award of two exclusive gas conveyance licences to bring gas to the towns of Strabane, Omagh, Enniskillen, Derrylin, Dungannon, Coalisland, Cookstown and Magherafelt.
We expect to conduct a statutory 28-day consultation on the conditions of the two conveyance licenses before the end of the year.