 | |
| Industry | Utilities |
|---|---|
| Founded | September 1996 |
| Founder | British Gas plc |
| Headquarters | Belfast , Northern Ireland |
Area served | Greater Belfast, Larne & East Down |
Key people | Michael McKinstry (CEO) |
| Owner | Royal Bank of Scotland Group Pension Fund (50%), managed by Vantage Infrastructure; Utilities Trust of Australia (50%) |
Number of employees | 175 |
| Website | www |
Phoenix Natural Gas is the largest gas distribution business in Northern Ireland, being the owner and operator of the licence for the distribution network in the Greater Belfast area. The distribution business is responsible for the development of the pipeline network and also for providing a 24/7 operational and transportation service platform to suppliers under the rules of the company's network code. The ongoing investment within the Phoenix Natural Gas licence area does not attract any grant or support from local or UK government. The investment is a standalone private venture.
The Phoenix Natural Gas network currently extends to over 3,650 kilometres of intermediate, medium and low-pressure mains, which distribute natural gas throughout the licence area, representing around 50% of the population of Northern Ireland. Approximately 70% of the gas infrastructure has been completed using trenchless 'No Dig' technology.
Phoenix Natural Gas manages the construction, maintenance and operation of the network and is also responsible for the development of the market in Greater Belfast and Larne. Already some 218,000 customers have been connected to natural gas network in the 20 plus years it has been available to them. The business is regulated under licence by the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR).