Federal Minister Dr. Reinhold Mitterlehner visits Austria's largest gas storage facility
13.11.2009 | Pressrelease
- Strengthening security of supply by building new and expanding existing gas storage facilities and intensifying domestic production
- Important regional economic stimulus through new jobs and million-Euro investments
Haidach (Upper Austria/Salzburg); 13th Nov. 2009. RAG's gas storage facility at Haidach, which was commissioned in 2007, is a crucial pillar of Austria's and Europe's security of supply. By the year 2011, Haidach's storage capacity will be doubled to reach 2.4 billion cubic metres of natural gas. Federal Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner, who was accompanied by RAG's General Manager Markus Mitteregger, today visited Austria's largest gas storage facility to gain first-hand impressions of its operational performance on the spot.
Strengthening security of supply through further expansion of gas storage facilities
Over the past years, RAG started to make major investments to expand and operate its gas storage facility at Puchkirchen (Upper Austria), commission the Haidach storage site (Upper Austria/Salzburg) and advance its 7Fields project.
"Compared to early 2009, we have increased storage and withdrawal capacities to further boost Austria's security of supply" underlines Markus Mitteregger, General Manager of RAG.
At the moment, RAG is actively exploring several gas storage projects in Upper Austria and Salzburg, and some of them have already been implemented. This will help to deliver another 2 billion cubic metres of natural gas for Austria's and Central Europe's security of supply. By 2017, storage capacities of RAG are scheduled to grow to around 6 billion cubic metres.
"This makes RAG one of the largest gas storage operators in Europe", says Mr. Mitteregger, commenting on Austria's future as THE energy storage country in Central Europe.
Using former reservoirs as underground storages is of high overall economic significance, as such reservoirs are owned by the Republic of Austria.
In addition, RAG is accelerating its exploration and production of domestic natural gas in the region of Upper Austria and Salzburg, using state-of-the-art drilling rigs and thus further strengthening Austria's security of supply.
Gas storage facilities stimulate economic activities
In 2009 alone, RAG spent 180 million Euros in Salzburg and Upper Austria by expanding the Haidach gas storage facility and other projects. In the coming years, additional investments worth 1 billion Euros are planned. RAG directly employs around 400 people, and another 500 contractor staff are permanently working for RAG. Moreover, some 1000 construction and assembly companies will be assigned to expansion works for the new storage facilities.
Gas is the energy source of the future: A strong partner for renewable energies
The gas storage facilities of RAG are indispensable when it comes to using renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy. Natural gas held in the company's underground gas storages covers demand for energy whenever renewables deliver insufficient quantities of energy. "Efficient use of a precious resource like natural gas is a major challenge. Combining natural gas with renewable energy sources in a meaningful way is an option for the future. This is why RAG invests in research projects dedicated to that purpose, such as a cooperation scheme with the University of Linz", comments Mr. Mitteregger.
Background information
Gas regions Upper Austria and Salzburg
Around one quarter of Austria's natural gas is trapped deep down Upper Austria and Salzburg. Last year alone, RAG produced approximately 650 million cubic metres of natural gas in the two provinces. At the same time, natural gas is a leading energy source for Upper Austria, as the region accounts for one fifth of Austria's natural gas consumption. This is mainly due to Upper Austria's economic strength, as it delivers around one quarter of Austria's industrial production.
About the Puchkirchen gas storage facility
In 1982, RAG's natural gas storage facility at Puchkirchen close to the city of Vöcklabruck was one of the first of its kind in Austria. The gas reservoir was discovered by RAG in 1969 at a depth of 1100 metres. At the moment, the maximum storage capacity in Puchkirchen is approx. 860 million cubic metres of natural gas, representing around 10 per cent of Austria's total annual consumption. Some 400,000 cubic metres of natural gas can be injected or withdrawn per hour. For comparison: This corresponds roughly to the hourly consumption of some 1.2 million households! Currently, the site at Puchkirchen is being expanded to hold more than 1 billion cubic metres of natural gas in a multi-year project scheduled for completion in 2010.
About the Haidach gas storage facility
The sand stone gas reservoir at Haidach near Straßwalchen was discovered by RAG in 1997 at a depth of 1600 m. Holding a total gas volume of 4.3 billion cubic metres, the Haidach reservoir was the largest field discovered in Austria since 1982. Since production started in 1998, more than 2.9 billion cubic metres were produced for the Austrian market. Due to its geological structure, the Haidach reservoir is perfectly suited for follow-up use as a natural gas storage.
At the Haidach site currently up to 1.2 billion cubic metres of natural gas can be stored. Until 2011, the storage capacity will be extended to hold 2.4 billion cubic metres, allowing for a withdrawal rate of more than 1.2 million cubic metres of natural gas per hour - a volume that roughly corresponds to the hourly consumption of 3.6 million households and is a major contribution to security of supply. From an engineering perspective, the site could be expanded to hold as much as 2.7 billion cubic metres. The Haidach site serves to secure Austria's (including the regions of Tyrol and Vorarlberg) and Bavaria's supply with gas.
RAG – A specialist in gas storage and production
Rohöl -Aufsuchungs Aktiengesellschaft (RAG) is the longest-standing exploration and production company in Austria. Since the discovery of oil and gas by RAG in the Vienna Basin in 1937, the company has produced over 14 million tons of crude oil and over 23 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Today, RAG’s annual production stands at around 650 million cubic meters of natural gas and 130,000 tons of crude oil. In recent years, the concession fields of RAG were extended to cover in excess of 8200 square kilometres, of which approx. 60 percent is located in Austria and around 40 percent in neighbouring Bavaria. In October 2009, RAG Hungary, a fully-owned subsidiary, was founded and RAG acquired 26 % of the shares in a shale gas project in Poland.
RAG has been active in the field of gas storage for almost 30 years and operates both Austria's largest gas storage facility at Haidach and the Puchkirchen storage facility near the city of Vöcklabruck. RAG is an international leader in the field of technology, safety and environmental standards.
Further inquiry note:
Elisabeth Kolm
Press officer / Corporate Communications
Schwarzenbergplatz 16, 1015 Wien
T +43 (0)50 724-5448; F +43 (0)50 724-5238
elisabeth.kolm@rag-austria.at