Bord Gáis or Bord Gáis Éireann - The Irish Gas Board (BGE) is the main supplier and distributer of pipeline natural gas in the Republic of Ireland. The company is currently building an extensive network across the Republic of Ireland. The company supplies gas to the Electricity Supply Board as well as domestic and industrial customers. The company was established in 1975 after gas was found near Kinsale, this gas field was found in 1971, the same year as the foundation of the Nuclear Energy Board.
The company has a network between Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford with a number of spurs, this network is connected to Scotland, via the Isle of Man. It is planning a network to Belfast and Derry in Northern Ireland.
The Irish gas market underwent major deregulation in the early 2000s. In July 2004 Bord Gáis effectively split into two companies: Bord Gáis Distribution or BGD (which builds the network and which will work with other private gas companies alongside Bord Gáis) and Bord Gáis Energy Supply or BGES, which will continue to deal with the accounts of those customers who remain with BGE after full deregulation comes into force.