The maintenance and emergency activities are among the primary activities for which the company is responsible. This includes the operation and maintenance of natural gas networks and its accessories (stations, regulators, networks, installations, conversions, chimneys, etc.) in accordance with safety and occupational health instructions applicable in this field.
The company, through its 22 emergency rooms operating 24/7, handles emergency cases and receives reports through a communication network equipped for immediate response to the incident location. All cases are efficiently dealt with through a unified number (129).
Furthermore, Town Gas distinguishes itself by introducing new technology for detecting natural gas leaks in pipelines using an optical methane detector. It’s the first and only company in the Arab Republic of Egypt to use this technology. This device relies on infrared technology to scan the air with an infrared beam passing between sensors at the front of the vehicle. If any methane particles are present in the air layer that intercepts the beam, the device issues an alarm indicating a leak and records the leakage value in parts per million (PPM).
The current devices rely on air sampling and issue an alert if hydrocarbon traces are found, not just methane, which constitutes 90% of natural gas components.
The effectiveness of the device has been demonstrated in its rapid response to recording the leakage value and location in less than five seconds. It also utilizes the latest communication means (GPS) to determine the coordinates of leak locations, as well as the ability to store a ll traffic data, leakage incidents, and retrieve, display, and print them by connecting the device to a computer.
Maintenance operations at the company are divided into two parts:
- Routine Maintenance: During this, maintenance teams conduct periodic checks on gas pipelines, networks, main valve chambers on high-pressure lines, and underground valve chambers to ensure the safety of network components. These activities are carried out according to an approved plan under periodic supervision from the Holding Company for Natural Gas “EGAS.”
- Emergency Maintenance: This involves emergency repair operations and rehabilitation and renewal works for steel branches, maintenance of household installations, and repairs of leaks. These tasks are referred to various operations departments, such as handling leaks, changing valves and meter regulators, and cleaning and testing chimneys, among others.
