Appointment of mainworks contractor signals start of Gas to the West build

SGN Natural Gas together with partners Mutual Energy, has announced the appointment of the main works contractor for Gas to the West which will see the commencement of the major construction phase of the £250m infrastructure project in Counties Tyrone, Derry and Fermanagh this week.

Murphy GMC and Roadbridge will be responsible for the specialist engineering and construction of 200km gas pipelines in the Cookstown, Coalisland, Derrylin, Dungannon, Enniskillen, Magherafelt and Omagh areas.

SGN Natural Gas is scheduled to deliver mains gas and meters to 40,000 customers over the next 40 years in eight main towns in the western area. Natural gas has already been successfully taken into Strabane with the first business and domestic customers connected there this year.

Speaking at a photo call at the Ballygawley site office to mark the announcement of the new main works contractor for the other seven towns, SGN Natural Gas Director Danny O’Malley said the Gas to the West team were delighted to have reached this latest significant milestone for the major energy project.

He added: “We’re very pleased to announce that we have finalised the appointment of the main works contractor, Murphy GMC, who will be building the pipeline for us in seven towns in Counties Tyrone, Derry and Fermanagh and, that we are now in a position to get this major new phase of the build underway starting on Monday 16th October.

 
“This announcement marks yet another exciting milestone in the significant progress we’ve made with the project to date and, on behalf of SGN Natural Gas, once again I’d like to thank everyone involved and look forward to continued success going forward in partnership with our key contractors, suppliers and all the main stakeholders who have been so supportive in helping us reach this latest vital point in the process.” 

Paddy Larkin, Chief Executive of Mutual Energy, said he was also delighted that work was commencing on the new construction phase which is scheduled to deliver the many well documented benefits of natural gas to thousands of homes and businesses in the western region during the lifetime of the project. 

He continued: “Gas will give industry a cleaner, more attractive fuel choice and enhance business competitiveness, which is also good news for jobs. Households, when connected, will also enjoy a more convenient and cost effective energy option which helps combat fuel poverty.” 

Mr Larkin added that as well as replacing coal and oil as fossil fuels, switching to natural gas helps protect the environment and mitigates against some of the harmful effects of climate change. 

The £250m investment in Gas to the West will support around 200 jobs during the construction phase and the new gas infrastructure is expected to sustain a significant number of ongoing jobs for installation sub-contractors and other related functions.