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Newsletter Issue 11 - May 2021
1,500 new connections passed and counting Welcome to Issue 11 of the SGN Natural Gas Newsletter. I am delighted to confirm that last month we passed 1,500 new customer connections in the network area. This is another significant milestone for the project and I would like to express my thanks to our entire team who aim to ensure that homes and businesses in the key towns have access to a natural gas connection as soon as possible. The hard work continues as we remain focused on ambitious targets this year. Almost 20,000 properties now have access to natural gas in our network. The recent official launch of our biodiversity plans has also been a highlight for the project. Securing regional broadcast coverage on both TV and radio has helped to increase public awareness of our environmental commitments. We will be planting a total of 7,000 trees by the end of the year and 4,000 of these native species have already taken root in Co. Fermanagh. The remainder of the trees will be planted in the Mid Ulster area, further details will be announced in the near future. Our community beekeeping project is also progressing well with honey already produced from the hives established at the Tulacorr Allotments in Strabane. Participants in the other towns, including some of our own team, have been completing an accredited beekeeping course online during the recent lockdown. We also have a surprise gift of bug motels which will be delivered to primary schools in the network in the coming weeks, a ‘cool’ eco-friendly initiative for staff and pupils to enjoy outdoors all year round. We are grateful for the continued support received from our key stakeholders and the local communities we serve. We look forward to significant future milestones in bringing natural gas to the west of Northern Ireland including innovative technologies than can keep homes and businesses warm and safe while making ground in the fight against the climate emergency. Our parent company SGN is laying the foundations for this change with the world-first H100 Fife project on the east coast of Scotland giving residents the opportunity to be at the leading edge of the low-carbon economy. As the newest gas distribution operator, SGN Natural Gas is helping consumers plan for a more sustainable energy future. The project ensures there is now a clear pathway to a fully decarbonised, hydrogen-ready future for Northern Ireland. Our infrastructure will play a vital role in decarbonising the region as outlined in the draft energy strategy recently published by the Department for the Economy. SGN Natural Gas is looking forward to future proofing the network to help achieve the UK government’s commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
David Butler
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Buzz in the air for biodiversity plans SGN Natural Gas, Northern Ireland’s newest natural gas operator, has announced major biodiversity plans which include investing in a community beekeeping programme across eight key towns and planting 7,000 trees in the heart of its network in the west. The initiatives are just the beginning of long-term plans which will help enable local residents to set up their own community based apiaries and become sustainable social enterprises producing honey. Our plans were recently featured in broadcast coverage on both BBC Radio Ulster and UTV Live. The opportunity to become beekeepers was first offered to residents in Strabane when the new gas network was first under construction. The initiative has since gone from strength-to-strength and participants in seven other key towns are also involved in the project. The Strabane hives are located at the Tulacorr Allotments which is part of the Koram Centre, a local counselling support service for Strabane and the surrounding areas. Adrian Loughrey, Manager of the Koram Centre, said: “We are delighted to receive the support from SGN Natural Gas. The funding has allowed us to develop beekeeping facilities at the Tulacorr Allotment site. Bee hives are now tended to every year with the honey produced sold as part of our social enterprise activities. It is great to see businesses getting involved with local communities in this way.” SGN Natural Gas has also been involved in the recent planting of almost 4,000 native Irish oak, hazel and birch trees in Co. Fermanagh. The project is being overseen by IndiWoods, the woodland consultancy which has planted over one million trees in Northern Ireland during the past 16 years. A further 3,000 trees will be planted in the heart of the network in Mid Ulster by the end of 2021. Bug motels will also be gifted to all primary schools in the network. The founder of IndiWoods, Carolyn Trimble, said: “IndiWoods is delighted to have planted a mixture of 3,700 native Irish oak, hazel and birch in a Fermanagh woodland, with the support of SGN Natural Gas. To help make the woodland more resilient for the future, we have planted Irish provenance trees which will be a great asset to the area and provide a valuable habitat for local wildlife, including the red squirrels.” Director of SGN Natural Gas, David Butler, said he was delighted the company was engaged in initiatives that can help sustain biodiversity in the network and wider region. “The SGN Natural Gas network can ultimately play a vital role in decarbonisation, removing millions of tonnes of CO2 from the west of Northern Ireland where oil/solid fuel use is prevalent. The project has an innovative network design ensuring there is now a clear pathway to a fully decarbonised, hydrogen-ready future for Northern Ireland that can deliver significant environmental benefits for everyone as we all ultimately move to a target net-zero carbon environment by 2050.”
A member of the IndiWoods team which planted nearly 4,000 trees in a Co. Fermanagh woodland on behalf of SGN Natural Gas.
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Team clock up 500 miles for wellbeing SGN Natural Gas is literally going the extra mile – 500 miles to be precise – as part of an ambitious wellbeing challenge undertaken by staff members. The company chose International Women’s Day (IWD) to launch the five-week challenge together with colleagues at SGN who look after the gas network in the south of England and Scotland. SGN is making a donation to Women’s Aid NI, which provides support and services to women and children experiencing domestic violence in the local network area. Both SGN Natural Gas and its parent company SGN encouraged their teams to collectively walk, run or cycle 500 miles between 8th March and 11th April, raising money for charity in the process. That’s five weeks to cover roughly the equivalent of three circuits of the SGN Natural Gas network in the west of Northern Ireland from Artigarvan - Strabane - Omagh - Enniskillen - Derrylin – Dungannon - Coalisland – Cookstown - Magherafelt and back to Strabane! While gyms remain closed, getting outside for a walk, run or cycle is still on the menu as part of our daily exercise, or treadmills and exercise bikes can be used instead. Regular exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and aside from the obvious physical benefits, getting active can help combat mental health issues, stay connected with colleagues while socially distanced, and is a great way to lift your mood. Lynsey Orr, Administration Team Manager, is captain of the all-female team ‘Girls on the Run’. She explained: “The ‘Five-Week Wellbeing Challenge’ organised by SGN could not have come at a better time for me. It’s the incentive I needed to motivate myself to get active. I have been walking my dog to contribute to the combined team goal of 500 miles.” “Working at home whilst home schooling three children has been difficult and this gives me a reason to make time for myself each day, put on my audiobook and get out into the fresh air. I think it will do wonders to help clear my head of daily stresses and improve my mood.” Colleague Sara Bain, who was part of the ‘Happy Feet’ team said: “I decided to take part in the challenge because it gives me the motivation to get up and be active. Doing the challenge as part of a team is exciting and the support will keep us all going with a little friendly competition! The achievement at the end will hopefully give me the incentive to keep the exercise going.”
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Four nominations for gas industry awards SGN Natural Gas has been nominated in four categories for the upcoming IGEM Gas Industry Awards 2021 which recognise the contribution of the UK gas industry’s most innovative, dedicated and outstanding members. The company is now in the running for top awards in ‘Company of the Year’, ‘Project of the Year’, ‘Engineer of the Year’ and ‘Leadership Award’ categories. David Butler, Director of SGN Natural Gas and formerly the Head of Engineering, is among the nominees selected for ‘Engineer of the Year’, while the company’s former director Danny O’Malley is a contender for the prestigious ‘Leadership Award’. The organisers IGEM (Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers) and EUA (Energy and Utilities Alliance) will host the awards ceremony virtually for the first time on 18th May. Last year’s event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. David Butler said: “The Gas Industry Awards recognise the most innovative and far reaching projects carried out within the sector across the UK. There are numerous outstanding companies and individuals among the nominees shortlisted. For SGN Natural Gas to have secured a total of four nominations is testament to the talent, dedication and vision of our team.”
“I would like to congratulate my predecessor Danny O’Malley on his nomination for the ‘Leadership Award’. I am also delighted to be shortlisted for ‘Engineer of the Year’. On behalf of SGN Natural Gas, we wish all of the nominees the very best of luck when the winners are announced on 18th May.” Neil Atkinson, CEO of IGEM, said: “Now more than ever, the UK engineering sector must rely on its ingenuity, its resilience and its innovative spirit. While many face a difficult road ahead, we are proud to be supporting the industrious individuals and organisations that are sure to be at the heart of the UK’s recovery.”
SGN Natural Gas is shortlisted for four awards including ‘Project of the Year’.
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Exciting time as new Head of Engineering appointed It’s a very exciting time to be part of the gas industry in Northern Ireland, according to Mark Davidson, the newly appointed Head of Engineering at SGN Natural Gas. Mark, a native of Scotland, says: “It’s a very exciting time to be part of the gas industry in Northern Ireland, with the possibility of biomethane and hydrogen as sustainable fuel alternatives. We will be watching the SGN H100 project in Fife with particular interest in terms of any similar projects that may be undertaken in our network.” The B.Eng. Mechanical Engineering graduate from the University of Glasgow, takes over the reins from David Butler who was appointed Director of SGN Natural Gas in October last year. Mark started out his career as Assistant Planning Engineer, and then as a supervisor for a contractor, now part of the Kier Group, on SGN’s network in Scotland. He made Northern Ireland his home six years ago, settling with his wife in Co. Tyrone. After moving to Northern Ireland, Mark worked as an Engineering Officer for Phoenix Natural Gas in the greater Belfast area and then as Network Operations Manager in Network Development before joining SGN Natural Gas in 2016. Recalling the key highlights of the main construction phase of the network, Mark says: “Crossing the River Mourne in Strabane was especially memorable as it was the first town to go ‘live’ and it couldn’t have been done without that piece of work being completed on time.” Mark was Team Manager delivering the network build in 2019 under extremely tight time constraints. He explained: “There are some challenging pieces of work still to be completed on the distribution network which I am looking forward to, including a number of specialist crossings”. Thanking his colleagues for their ongoing support, Mark said: “They have already overcome a lot of challenges to get us this far. They all continue to work hard to make natural gas available to as many business and domestic customers in the licence area as possible.”
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Green light for Enniskillen river crossing Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has approved a major river crossing in Enniskillen which will be carried out by SGN Natural Gas as part of multi-million pounds investment in new energy infrastructure delivering natural gas to homes and businesses in the west of Northern Ireland. The river crossing works programmed near the Lakeland Forum will allow the rest of Enniskillen to avail of a natural gas conversion as a result of the continuing expansion of the distribution pipeline in the island town. This river crossing will be one of the largest single pieces of infrastructure development to take place in Enniskillen and play a key role in realising objectives within the Council’s Community Plan in relation to health and wellbeing and economic development. It is estimated that construction activity including directional drilling in the river bed will commence in April/May this year, although this timeframe depends on fish migration in the Erne. Council was reassured that public access will be maintained at the Lakeland Forum insofar as possible while the work is taking place. Reinstatement works are scheduled for completion in Summer 2021. Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Diana Armstrong said: “Fermanagh and Omagh District Council welcomes further investment in the natural gas infrastructure which will offer wider access to a more environmentally friendly fuel choice for home heating requirements. This investment will enable households throughout Enniskillen to avail of natural gas and help to significantly reduce carbon emissions both in our district and the wider network in the west.”
A major river crossing will take place in Enniskillen.
“The Council has received assurances from SGN Natural Gas that the proposed river crossing will have minimal impact on those wishing to use the playing fields and pathway at the Forum and it will work closely with the company to ensure the smooth and timely completion of the works scheduled over the coming months.” David Butler, Director of SGN Natural Gas explained that the distribution pipeline has been steadily developing throughout Enniskillen over the past year and natural gas is currently live to a limited number of properties in the town. The river crossing now needs to take place in order to meet increasing consumer demand for natural gas and ensure the rest of Enniskillen can access the same benefits as their neighbours. All three crossing points are critical in taking the live natural gas infrastructure to the town centre and surrounding areas. A detailed engagement plan will ensure all stakeholders and the local community are communicated with well in advance of the works taking place.
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It’s all about our customers ‘Roarsome’ reception in Cookstown
A young ‘dinosaur’ recently brightened the day for our hard working contractors in Cookstown. Ten-year-old Harvey Taylor donned his new T-Rex costume to provide some light relief for the Kier team assigned to Milburn Park. His mum Adele got in touch with us to share a short video clip which had onlookers smiling too. She said: “Harvey saw the workers and started dancing for them, and just generally making them laugh. He was waving away, and the guys were more than happy to watch him and wave back. Hopefully it gave them a lift as well, after all it’s not every day you go to work and see a dinosaur.” “With the work going on I’ve been thinking about the advantages of natural gas. Not only is it more environmentally friendly, cheaper, but it maximises the garden space. It’s definitely something I’d consider in the future.”
A young T-Rex provided some light relief during works taking place in Cookstown.
Energy Saving Week top tips
SGN Natural Gas actively supported the annual Energy Saving Week campaign. Now in its 20th year, the week-long event shines a spotlight on the importance of energy efficiency at home to reduce carbon emissions and make savings on energy bills. Energy Saving Trust brought organisations from across Northern Ireland together to share simple and effective tips to help households save energy, reduce their bills, and limit the impact of our energy use on the environment. SGN Natural Gas actively supported the annual Energy Saving Week campaign from 1-5 February.
“Converting to natural gas has been fantastic. We now have instant heat and hot water when we need it.” -Grace Chung, Magherafelt sgnnaturalgas.co.uk
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It’s all about our customers Omagh: A flyer, virtual 1-1 and hey presto!
Getting connected to natural gas is a smooth process thanks to our 1-1 virtual appointments offered to customers as an option during lockdown. Just ask Omagh resident Ryan McFarland, whose family are enjoying the benefits of natural gas at their Cannonvale home after initially receiving an information flyer through the door. He said: “I went onto the website to see what way the gas installation worked and while there I saw that you could book an online appointment, so I went ahead and did it; it was very straightforward.” “I knew my boiler was old so I was looking at options and while browsing, I read about the heat incentives which I’ve since been able to take advantage of. The sales rep, Chris McMullan, was very informative when we had the call and everything went very smoothly. It was all sorted within a month or so and all the staff were very professional, carrying out the work in a quick and safe manner.” Ryan and his wife Ciara are parents to a three-year-old so instant hot water is their favourite feature of having gas installed. The fact that natural gas is so much better for the environment is also very important to the young family.
Ryan McFarland topping up the pre-payment meter at his home in Omagh.
Magherafelt: Conversion from oil ‘just so handy’
A Magherafelt pensioner has been singing the praises of natural gas since he made the big switch in September 2020 after a lifetime relying on oil heating. Norman Harris has been residing in Mullaghboy Lane for over 70 years. He initially saw a SGN Natural Gas sign at a neighbour’s house, and after a glowing recommendation decided to check it out for himself. Norman was impressed with the entire process – from his initial call with Domestic Sales Representative Daniella to the moment natural gas first heated his home. “Over the years I have become used to ordering oil deliveries for 9 o’clock in the morning and them not arriving until the afternoon. I don’t have to worry about that anymore. When the gas engineers arrived, everyone was very respectful and safe by keeping masked and socially distanced which I appreciated. Everything was completed in about six weeks from sign up to boiler installation.” “Even getting rid of the oil tank in the garden was a bonus as that was always a bit of an eyesore. I am probably most thrilled about the instant home heating and constant hot water on tap, it’s just so handy.”
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Thank you for taking the time to get up to date with the SGN Natural Gas network project. If you would like to contact us about our project please don’t hesitate to get in touch Visit sgnnaturalgas.co.uk Phone: 0800 975 7774 Email: info@SGNNaturalGas.co.uk Facebook: @SGNnaturalgas Twitter: @SGNNaturalGas LinkedIn: SGN Natural Gas
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