Safe infrastructure

Customers expect us to ensure a safe infrastructure and guarantee their safety while we perform our work. The safety of our networks for everyone involved is a key priority. We are constantly investing in the reliability of our infrastructure based on information regarding the condition of our network.

Replacement programme for grey cast-iron and asbestos cement gas pipes

Grey cast-iron and asbestos cement pipes were often used in the past in main pipelines in the gas distribution network. Those pipes are being replaced. In 2024, Liander removed over 156 kilometres of grey cast-iron and asbestos cement gas pipes. Besides replacing pipes, we frequently check for (small) gas leaks using highly sensitive equipment These checks are not limited to the grey cast-iron and asbestos cement pipes; they cover all mains and connecting pipes in operation. This approach ensures that we can address gas leaks at an early stage, before they reach a critical level. We remain alert to changing situations and new risks, and give high priority to the replacement of pipes wherever necessary.

Asbestos in above-ground systems and buildings

In the high-voltage and distribution domain, we continued the asbestos remediation work in the accessible substation areas that needed to be tackled according to the industry-wide colour coding policy (red and orange). This will result in completion of the asbestos remediation work in these selected substation areas in 2027. We are on track with this. 

Investigating damage after outages 

We set up an investigation when incidents arise in the electricity network. A damage investigation team conducts the investigation to identify damage and faults in Liander components. The purpose is to identify the possible cause and gather information on the equipment failure. This allows us to revise or set up maintenance programmes and improvement actions. In 2024, we completed 143 damage investigations, consisting of 132 in the medium-voltage and low-voltage domains and 11 in the high-voltage domain.

Robot dog detects methane gas leaks 

Methane is a very harmful greenhouse gas that is increasingly receiving attention worldwide. In 2024, we joined the United Nations’ ‘Oil & Gas Methane Partnership 2.0’ through Netbeheer Nederland. This partnership is an alliance of 150 countries on a mission to reduce methane emissions by 30% in 2030. Among other activities, it calls for network operators to inspect the grids more frequently in order to detect methane emissions. In a test set up for this purpose, a self-guiding GPS-enabled robot was let loose in a network of gas pipes to assess its ability to accurately detect gas leaks. This test took place at Kiwa Training in Apeldoorn, where there is a small network of pipes with precisely identified gas leaks.