"Gassco was established by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy on 14 May 2001 as a wholly state-owned limited company. It took over the operatorship for all gas transport from the Norwegian continental shelf on 1 January 2002-03.
Gassco is responsible as operator for transporting Norwegian gas to continental Europe and the UK through a 7 800-kilometre network of pipelines.
The company carried 88.5 billion cubic metres of dry (sales) gas to market in 2006, corresponding to about 15 per cent of European gas consumption.
The oldest part of the network was built in the mid-1970s, and it is constantly being extended. Planning the gas transport system represents a complex job with many participants. Gassco’s architect role gives it responsibility for assessing needs and coordinating further development of the gas transport system. The aim is to ensure that Norway has an integrated and well-run network which ensures optimum utilisation of its offshore resources.
In its role as capacity allocator, Gassco is required to provide access to the gas transport system on objective and transparent terms. These must serve all gas shippers and contribute to the most efficient possible utilisation of Norwegian offshore resources.
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