Update on Western Gas Network Project

Our customer for the Western Gas Network Project are no longer progressing their application for additional entry capacity into the National Transmission System (NTS), known as a Planning and Advanced Reservation of Capacity Agreement (PARCA), at Milford Haven in South Wales. As a result, this scheme was paused in 2024. 

National Gas recognises the importance of this pipeline route in continuing to supply the UK’s energy needs, and subject to Ofgem approval will be progressing the work in the form of the West Import Resilience (WIR) Project. This is a critical infrastructure project which is designed to increase our capability to transport gas from the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminals into our National Transmission System supplying the UK and Europe.

Why this project is needed

National Gas owns and operates the gas National Transmission System (NTS) – a vast pipeline network that transports gas from terminals and ports to every part of Britain. The gas transported in our pipelines plays a critical role in meeting Britain’s energy needs, helping to power electricity generation, to fuel industrial processes and to heat businesses and homes. It also provides the energy security needed to help Britain achieve its net zero carbon objectives in the coming decades. 

Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) which comes from overseas and then enters the UK network is a significant part of maintaining energy security between now and 2050. Once LNG is converted back into gas it is then distributed around the country in underground gas pipelines. 

National Gas has identified that the existing stretch of pipeline which runs between South Wales and Worcestershire needs to be upgraded to ensure it can accommodate the increased capacity which is anticipated in the coming years. 

In response to larger volumes of LNG, helping to strengthen the diversity of energy supply National Gas built an underground pipeline to transport gas from one of the UK’s docking points in Milford Haven to the wider UK gas network between 2004 and 2007. 

The gas arrives at Milford Haven, by sea, in liquid form. It is then converted back into gas and transferred by an underground pipeline into the wider network.

Project overview

This infrastructure needs to be improved to deal with the anticipated further increase in the amount of gas arriving at Milford Haven.

The most significant part of the work will be building two sections of new pipeline in Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

This work is known collectively as the West Import Resilience (WIR)project. Most of our work will be in rural, sparsely populated areas and it is likely that most residents in these areas will not be disrupted by our work.

The project is due to be completed by 2027 and will enable the network to be suitably prepared for the anticipated demand for gas in the years to come.

The project will be focused around the following key pieces of work:

• 9km of new pipeline between Wormington and Honeybourne and 2km of new pipeline between Churchover Compressor and Churchover Multijunction
• Connection of new pipelines and ensuring effective compression at existing stations.

Construction

National Gas is committed to being a good neighbour. As we build the energy system of the future we recognise that some of our work can be disruptive. We are committed to working with communities to minimise the impact of our works. However, when disruption is unavoidable and we do get in your way we apologise for this.

Throughout this project we will have a freephone hotline where you can let us know about any issues you have and we will always make reasonable adjustments to address anything that arises.