GASAG
Erdgas AG Laufental-Thierstein (GASAG) was founded on 20 August 1993. It operates facilities to provide a reliable supply of natural gas and biogas to private and public buildings.
Its shareholders include Primeo Wärme AG and the municipalities of Breitenbach, Büsserach, Dittingen and the town of Laufen. Primeo Wärme AG is responsible for the management and operation of the company.
GASAG focusses on biogas
The course is set for biogas
The aim is to achieve a 100 per cent renewable gas supply by 2050. As an interim step, the share of biogas is to reach at least 40 per cent by 2030. The biogas comes from both the region (Pratteln) and across Europe, and is produced from green waste, food waste from the catering sector and other biogenic waste. Further local sources of biogas are being investigated.
In consultation with the local authorities and in line with their energy planning, we are implementing the ecological transformation of the gas supply. In doing so, we are laying the foundations for achieving the climate targets set by the federal government.
Information on the current gas supply
The gas supply in Switzerland is currently guaranteed.
According to the Association of the Swiss Gas Industry (VSG), Switzerland's natural gas supply is currently secure.
To secure supplies for the winter, the Federal Council instructed the regional gas companies as a community to procure additional quantities and build up gas reserves. This includes the procurement of gas, additional gas storage capacities (15 per cent of annual domestic consumption), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and terminal capacities for LNG.
The Swiss gas industry has no direct contracts with Russia. Gas is sourced directly and primarily from the markets in Germany, the Netherlands, France and Italy. The Swiss gas industry has no influence over the supply mix of the respective upstream suppliers. Gas accounts for 12 per cent of total energy consumption in Switzerland.
You can find more information on the origin of the gas here.
LNG – the alternative to pipelines
LNG is the abbreviation for liquefied natural gas. This refers to liquefied natural gas. The liquid aggregate state is achieved at a temperature of -162°C. The gas is compressed by a factor of 600 and can be transported on ships with a high energy density. The gas is compressed by a factor of 600 and can be transported on ships with a high energy density. It usually comes from Qatar, the USA and Australia. There are around 40 unloading terminals along the west coast of Europe, where the LNG is fed back into the existing pipelines in gaseous form.
In the event of a gas shortage in Switzerland, a national economic supply concept will be implemented that provides for measures by the Crisis Intervention Organisation (KIO) to reduce demand in several stages. These include austerity measures, ordering dual-fuel systems to switch to oil and, in an emergency, imposing quotas on large gas consumers.
Further information can be found here.
The GASAG Board of Directors has adopted a biogas strategy. The aim is to steadily increase the share of biogas to 40 per cent by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050.
Customers can switch to 100 per cent Swiss biogas at any time by sending an email to gasag@primeo-energie.ch. In doing so, they comply with the requirements of the Canton of Basel-Landschaft, which stipulates that renewable energy sourced domestically must be used when replacing a boiler or installing a new gas connection (Cantonal Energy Act BL (EnG BL)). The Canton of Solothurn does not have any corresponding regulations.
Following the peak in the summer of 2022, gas market prices have fallen again. However, they have not returned to the long-term levels seen in previous years.
Since 2024, the GASAG Board of Directors has reduced the total tariff (energy, network, levies) every year. For 2027, the energy component can be reduced further. However, network costs must be raised slightly due to higher expenses. All customers will be informed by letter.