Distrigaz Sud Retele: total investments of 555 million RON in 2022

In 2022, Distrigaz Sud Retele made total investments in the natural gas distribution network worth 555 million RON to meet the company’s two major objectives: the safe operation of the distribution system and the development of the natural gas infrastructure. These were directed primarily in the modernization of the distribution system by replacing steel pipes with polyethylene ones (with superior technical parameters and a longer life span) and in its expansion by connecting new customers.

The company allocated, last year, a budget of around 220 million RON for the replacement of 120 km of pipes and branches, 12,000 adjustment-measurement stations and 250,000 natural gas meters, thus continuing the effort of recent years to modernize the distribution network. The company’s annual investment plans, combined with the purchase and use of state-of-the-art equipment and technologies for operational activity, have led, over the course of 10 years, to a significant reduction of around 25 percent in the quantities of natural gas intended for consumption technologically as well as reducing equivalent methane emissions.

To meet the requests of customers who requested connection to the natural gas distribution system, the company mobilized important financial resources, allocating 335 million RON (representing 60 percent of the total investment budget) for their expansion and connection works. For the 85,000 new customers connected to the network, 430 km of pipelines were commissioned, and 28,000 new connections were made.

The company also emphasized the digitization of the services offered to its customers, the company being the first natural gas distribution operator to implement eportalDGSR, an electronic portal through which a series of online functions can be accessed, available at https:// racordaresd.distrigazsud-retele.ro/. Thus, customers can submit online the application for connection to the distribution system and the documents related to the process, add the place of consumption, and submit the natural gas index, access information about the date of the next check/revision of the natural gas use facility and the consumption history. By this digital service, in 2022, 82 percent of all connection requests, 95 percent of all requests for commissioning natural gas facilities and 50 percent of all requests for approvals were submitted.