MANX Gas will launch the first phase of a two year natural gas extension project next Monday.

 
A team of Island based gas safe engineers will be carrying out pre-conversion surveys on 6,800 properties in the Island from February 28.

Aidan Baglow, the conversion project manager, said: "This survey is crucial to the success of the project and will provide us with the correct information to support an efficient conversion process.

"This is a customer driven project and our priority is to ensure that all customers and potential customers are kept fully informed as to what is happening.

"During this survey, which should take no more than two hours, the engineers will identify all connected gas appliances, perform a gas safety inspection and do minor repairs on certain safety related defects which may be discovered during the survey. 

"From this survey we will order all the necessary parts in readiness to convert customers to natural gas in 2012."

The project will begin in Ramsey before moving to the south and finally the west of the Island. Manx Gas has said the conversion will provide all existing and prospective central heating gas customers with improved security of supply, greater choice in appliances for heating and cooking and improved safety as a result. 

Aidan concluded: "This project is going to bring benefits to our customers and to the Island as a whole. The planning period has been successful and we are now looking forward to it getting under way."