Code of Operations

‘Amendment of Code of Operations to revise certain parameters to the Gas Quality Specification of natural gas at IP Entry Points and Entry Points i.e. (i) Revise the WOBBE Index (real gross dry) range to 46.5 – 51.41 MJ/m3 and (ii) Replace the Incomplete Combustion Factor (ICF) and Soot Index parameters with a Relative Density (RD) limit <0.7’.

Rationale -This change in Gas Quality is to align Ireland’s gas quality parameters with recent changes in Great Britain in order to remove the risk of curtailment of gas imports from Great Britain for non-compliance with the quality parameters set out in the Code set out in the Appendix No.1 of Part G (Technical) of the Code of Operations. 

Implementation date and affected Code provisions   The modification comes into effect on 6 April 2025 and amends Appendix No.1 of Part G (Technical) by updating specified gas quality parameters 

‘Gas Points with a design MHQ of one hundred thousand (100,000) kWh shall be classified as LDM irrespective of the Annual Quantity associated with such Gas Points’

Rationale- this classification amendment will support relevant Shippers in meeting obligations under the Code to submit accurate information with respect to Nominations ensuring that Shippers at large end user facilities, which may not have advance notice of their gas requirements, will retain access to hourly metering data on GTMS and GNI will retain visibility of those Shippers’ gas positions.

Implementation date and affected Code provisions The modification comes into effect on 9 July 2024 and amends Section 2.1.2 of Part F (Administration) of the Code of Operations by adding paragraph (e) which states that irrespective of the Annual Quantity at a Gas Point if the [design] MHQ at the Gas Point is greater than or equal to one hundred thousand (100,000) kWh the classification shall be LDM. Further consequential amendments are made within the same section as well as Section 2.1.3 of Part F (Administration).

‘Removal of Tolerances at RNG Entry Points’

Rationale- Regulation (EU) No 312/2014 (BAL NC) establishes a Network Code on Gas Balancing of Transmission Networks (BAL NC). Article 50 of the BAL NC allows for balancing tolerances in certain limited circumstances. Those tolerances are classed as Interim Measures under Article 45 and are to be discontinued within five years from the date of entry into force of the BAL NC, i.e. by 16 April 2019. This amendment removes the only outstanding interim balancing measure on the GNI system and brings Ireland into full compliance with the provisions of the BAL NC. 

Implementation date and affected Code provisions.  This modification comes into effect on 1 October 2025 and amends Part A (Definitions and Interpretation) and Sections 1.6 and 1.11 of Part E (Balancing and Shrinkage) of the Code of Operations by removing references to tolerances at RNG Entry Points.