As the exclusive natural gas distribution company in Istanbul, İGDAŞ now ranks 3rd in the natural gas sector in Europe.

Objectives:

Established in 1986, İGDAŞ's mission is to provide the public with clean burning natural gas and to establish and operate all infrastructural and related facilities for the utilization and purchase of natural gas.

Operations:

İGDAŞ currently provides 2 million cubic meters of natural gas to 1.8 million customers. İGDAŞ has a capacity of 2.5 million subscribers.

- To ensure maximum safety, the steel pipelines of the network are constructed only after detailed ground examination has determined the area is in a secure, low-risk earthquake zone. In the event of gas leakage or a pressure fall in these pipes, the Main Feeding Station will sense the pressure fall automatically and cut off gas feed.

-Regional regulators feed gas into polyethylene pipes, which carry the gas to the service boxes. These regulators contain security valves which can sense any gas pressure fall in the network and cut off gas flow immediately.

-Polyethylene pipes carry the gas to the service boxes on streets and in front of buildings. These pipes are
grossly elastic (600%) preventing damage or breakage from earthquakes or other impact. The service boxes also contain security valves to cut off gas flow in the event of an emergency.

-For increased safety, İGDAŞ has implemented an emergency hotline customers can call to report problems. With offices and intervention teams located on both sides of the Bosphorus, İGDAŞ engineers can be dispatched rapidly in the case of an emergency.

Pressure Regulating Metering Station

- İGDAŞ uses the İGABIS Infrastructural Data Processing System. This GIS-based system includes a detailed map of Istanbul along with a database containing locations, streets, buildings and all intersecting points relating to the natural gas network and the position of natural gas lines. İGDAŞ uses the information in cooperation with other organizations to coordinate infrastructure projects while maintaining the integrity of the gas network. İGABİS can also be used to show the consequences of gas shut down on any valve - i.e. which buildings and areas will be affected - before any decisions are made.

RMS-A Pressure - A Type

o İGDAŞ uses the SCADA Remote Monitoring, Data Acquisition and Control System to monitor and control the natural gas distribution network 24 hours a day. The system checks 10 parameters simultaneously like gas pressure, volume, flow, leakage, regulator valves and filter clogging.

Accomplishments:

As the sole distributor of natural gas in Istanbul, İGDAŞ strives to provide safe, high quality service to its customers.

-İGDAŞ boasts one of the best Technical and Maintenance departments in Europe. Intervention teams respond to emergency calls in an average 13.5 minutes. The European average is 30 minutes.

-İGDAŞ is in compliance with all Turkish Standards Institutes (TSE) regulations and is fully licensed to distribute natural gas.

-İGDAŞ won a Turkish Golden Spider award for the 3rd best website in Turkey.

-İGDAŞ emphasizes safety and has recently opened an international gas education and training facility.

Future Goals:

İGDAŞ will continue to expand its coverage area and update its equipment to ensure the safe distribution of natural gas.

-İGDAŞ aims to serve 2 million customers by the end of 2002.

International Gas Education and Training Facility

Number of Natural Gas Subscribers and Consumers

-Currently covering 65% of Istanbul (geographically), İGDAŞ will expand its gas distribution network to reach 80% of Istanbul by the end of 2002.

-İGDAŞ will upgrade the SCADA system to control 390 regional regulators, increasing the total number of checkpoints from 250 to over 500.

-Emphasizing the importance of safety and quality, İGDAŞ will apply for the international ISO 9001 certificate.

-İGDAŞ will complete an offshore project connecting the Prince's Islands to the gas network.