THE installation of a new natural gas pipeline in the north of the Island has been completed.
The pipeline will supply natural gas to existing Manx Gas customers in Kirk Michael, Ballaugh and Ramsey.
It will feed into the Manx Gas networks in Kirk Michael and Ballaugh which currently deliver liquid petroleum gas (LPG) to customers. Natural gas will replace the town's gas (LPG/air mixture) and LPG in Ramsey.
The conversion of customers' appliances to natural gas will start in Ramsey in spring 2012 and will be carried out by Isle of Man-based gas safe registered engineers who have been trained and are qualified for this specialist work.
Since February this year engineers have been carrying out pre-conversion surveys of households which are going to be converted to natural gas.
During the survey of each property all connected gas appliances are identified and safety checked and minor repairs are carried out on safety-related defects. From this survey Manx Gas will prepare all of the individual conversion kits required to convert customers' appliances to natural gas.
The new pipeline, which is over 19km in length, starts within the Manx Electricity Authority's existing pressure reduction station at Glen Mooar where gas comes ashore from a pipeline running between Scotland and Ireland.
The pipe-laying works were carried out by Paul Carey and Sons Ltd and JCK Ltd under the supervision of the Manx Electricity Authority.
Project manager John Beckett said: "In order to feed gas into the new northern supply pipe a hot tap connection into the existing high pressure steel gas pipe was made at Glen Mooar while the gas supply to the Douglas area was maintained.
"This is the first time this technique has been used in the Isle of Man and was carried out by a specialist team following extensive planning by MEA gas engineers."
The Manx Electricity Authority is constructing two more sections of pipeline from Glen Mooar to Peel and from Glen Vine to the south of the Island.
These works are scheduled to be completed before September 2011.
