The European Commission is taking Britain and Ireland to the European Court of Justice because inadequate gas infrastructure is limiting competition, the Commission said on Thursday. "The maximum interconnection capacity is not offered in the UK and Ireland as the pipeline connecting Northern Ireland and Ireland is not open to the market," the Commission said in a statement.
"This means that gas companies in Ireland cannot directly trade gas with Northern Ireland or vice versa." It also said the pipeline connecting Scotland to Northern Ireland did not allow short-term services and lacked options to nominate virtual gas transport in both directions as required by long-standing EU laws.
The gas pipeline connecting Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is owned by incumbent Irish gas company Bord Gais, while the Scotland-Northern Ireland gas pipeline in question belongs to Premier Transmission Limited, owned by a mutual company.
"The Commission is aware that the UK and Irish governments intend to introduce common arrangements for gas between Ireland and Northern Ireland," the statement said. Bord Gais said the regional regulators were addressing the infringements by developing arrangements for gas transport on the island. "Bord Gáis Networks is aware that the issues in relation to the infringements are being addressed by the Regulatory Authorities in Ireland and Northern Ireland," a spokeswoman said.