New national pipeline register - consultation underway

The supply and disposal networks in Switzerland are not uniformly documented and the relevant information is accessible in different ways. For this reason, the Federal Council wants to develop the Swiss Pipeline Cadastre in close cooperation with the partners concerned, in particular the cantons, according to the Federal Council's press release. This cadastre will provide nationwide geodata on all above-ground and underground pipelines and the associated infrastructure in the required quality and in a harmonized form. According to the Federal Council, the up-to-date documentation reduces the risk of damage during underground construction work. It also supports digitalization and coordination in planning, project planning and construction. The Swiss Pipeline Cadastre thus makes an important contribution to the secure supply of energy, water and communication as well as waste disposal to society.

Adaptation of the legal basis

The legal basis for the Swiss Pipeline Cadastre must be laid down in the Geoinformation Act be created. According to the Federal Council, the core of the bill is the regulations in a new section 4a. With the introduction of the Swiss Pipeline Cadastre, an obligation for network operators to provide spatial digital documentation of the pipeline network should be introduced at the same time. In particular, the purpose and content, responsibilities (namely the roles of the Confederation and cantons), the obligation to provide data and access, use and monitoring must be regulated at legislative level. The detailed regulations will have to be laid down by the Federal Council in an ordinance, according to the concluding statement.

The consultation for the partial revision of the Geoinformation Act runs until April 18, 2024.