The operators of one of the country’s most strategic pieces of infrastructure are celebrating 30 years of securing domestic gas supply to the UK and looking ahead to using the system to help deliver net zero targets.

At a time when security of energy supply has never been so important, Ancala Midstream is marking the 30th anniversary of the commissioning of the system, which provides the UK with enough gas to heat around 5 million households each day.

The UK currently imports more than 50% of its gas and the SAGE terminal has a critical part to play, providing up to 15% of the country’s domestic supply on any day.

On the 2nd of August 1992, first gas flowed from the SAGE Terminal, located at St Fergus in the North East of Scotland, into the UK’s National Grid. Three decades later, the SAGE system continues to transport and process gas from the UK and Norwegian sectors of the North Sea.

Jim Halliday, CEO of Ancala Midstream, said: 
“The SAGE System remains a vital component of the UK’s energy security.  We strongly believe in the future potential of SAGE and will continue to provide secure services to its current and future customer base for the next 20 years.

“The role of gas infrastructure in enabling the transition to low emission energy is evidenced by the role the SAGE System will play in the Scottish Cluster as a potential provider of CO2 removal and ancillary services. A project to remove CO2 from the gas supply at SAGE has already been recognised by the UK Government as being eligible for future support.  While these options develop, Ancala Midstream will continue to provide the UK with vital gas supplies and continue to seek ways to further reduce our environmental footprint.

“Ancala Midstream as SAGE operator and on behalf of the other SAGE owners, would like to thank all the staff and contractors who have worked on the system over the last 30 years, ensuring its continued safe and reliable operation.”