Presentation of AGGM - Austrian Gas Grid Management AG

AGGM is active as gas distribution area manager for the entire federal territory of Austria.

February 20, 2024, we had the pleasure to be hosted by AGGM - Austrian Gas Grid Management AG in one of the prominent coffeehouses in Vienna, the Café Landtmann, where Executive Director Ing. Mag. Michael Woltran gave us an inside report on the activities of AGGM as well as an up to date overview on the natural gas supply and gas infrastructure for Austria and the Region. Due to the situation in Europe since the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine the security of gas supply in Europe is volatile and therefore of general interest.

Founded in 2003 as a subsidiary of the former OMV Erdgas GmbH (now Gas Connect Austria GmbH), AGGM has been  active as a distribution area manager for the entire federal territory since 2012 . In 2017, the function of market area management in the market area East (all federal provinces except Tyrol and Vorarlberg) was also added. The corporate structure of AGGM is divided into two management board divisions, each of which has two subordinate departments. As a stock corporation acting independently of the other market participants, AGGM fulfills the tasks provided for in the Gas Industry Act (GWG 2011).

After his presentation Mr. Woltran was ready to answer numerous questions about the safety of gas supply for Austria. Especially the gas contract between OMV and Gazprom as well as the gas transit through Ukraine was of interest. We were informed about alternative gas supply lines such as from Italy where the reverse system to Austria is in operation already. Furthermore it was expected, that the gas pipeline link via Upper Austria to the German grid was to be constructed in order to end the dependence on Russian gas. Mr. Woltran pointed out that Austria had one of the largest storage facilities for gas in Europe and therefore the gas supply during peek hours and the winter period for companies and households was assured. He emphasized that despite of the energy change gas would be still essential for some time to come.

Michael Woltran was born in Vienna in 1962. He completed his technical training at the HBLVA Rosensteingasse for the chemical industry and went on to study business administration in Vienna. After working in controlling for several years, he moved to the energy sector in 1998, where he worked for OMV for 23 years, mainly in the role of SVP for Gas Logistics. Other professional positions included at renowned companies such as Henkel Chemie GmbH, Mautner Markhof AG, Forschungszentrum Seibersdorf GmbH and Borealis GmbH. Michael Woltran has been one of 2 executive board members of AGGM AG (Market and Distribution Area Manager for the Austrian gas market) since June 2021.