Key facts
Switzerland has a pipeline network of around 21,000km, which is used to transport both liquid and gaseous thermal fuels and motor fuels. The operation of pipeline installations is associated with risks to people and the environment.
The operators are responsible for the safety of the installations. In accordance with the Pipelines Act (PipeA), the federal government supervises the 2,500km of high-pressure pipelines, of which 2,300km are gas pipelines and 200km are oil pipelines. The cantons are responsible for supervising the rest of the distribution network.
The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) and the Federal Pipelines Inspectorate (FPI) share this federal supervision and employ a total of 14 full-time equivalents for this purpose. The SFOE supervises risks in the construction and operation of pipeline installations and carries out overall supervision of the cantons. The FPI takes care of technical supervision.
The SFAO audited the SFOE and the FPI to determine whether direct supervision and overall supervision are carried out effectively and efficiently. It also assessed the FPI’s independence from the Swiss Association for Technical Inspections (SVTI), as well as the independence of the employees of both supervisory bodies from the operators. The audit revealed that supervision generally functions well and that there are no indications of insufficient independence. Nevertheless, the lack of available sanctions means that overall supervision is not effective enough.