Gas supply in Europe

The country information in the overview

Baltic

Commercial bottles can be filled using Euro adapters.

Belgium

Belgian cylinders are identical to German ones and can be connected to German regulators. Cylinder exchange is possible as well as filling of cylinders and tanks at special stations. The largest filling stations in Belgium are Belgian Shell and Totalfina in Brussels, Primagaz in Tessenderlo, Semnickgas in Geraardsbergen, Gasbottling in Ghent.

Denmark

Gas supply generally does not pose any problems in Denmark. German 5- and 11-kg cylinders are offered for exchange at almost every campground that caters to German vacationers. Kosan Gas As has filling stations for gray cylinders in Nørresundborg near Ålborg (North Jutland), in Koge (Sjælland) and also in Neksø (Bornholm).

BP Gas also has a number of German cylinders that can be exchanged for empty ones at some stations. For more information, call 0045 89 48 77 00.

France

In France, only the usual gas cylinders are exchanged or refilled, foreign cylinders are not. You can borrow French bottles, mostly 13 kg bottles, at many campsites or also at gas stations for a deposit of about 35,- €. With an adapter from the Europe set (already get in Germany) you can then connect these bottles to the gas system in the caravan or motorhome.

Gold-colored bottles should even fit without an adapter. Important: when borrowing a bottle, you get a kind of receipt (Bulletin de Consignation), which you should keep especially well, because without this receipt you no longer get the deposit back.

Greece

Exchange or filling stations are usually found only in the larger cities: Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras and Monemvassia. It is recommended to take the Europa filling kit with you. ADAC members can also contact the ADAC foreign emergency station in Athens, Tel.: (01) 960 12 66 or outside opening hours the Greek partner club ELPA, Tel.: 104, in case of need.

These offices will then try to find a suitable station to refill or exchange. Most campsites can also provide information about gas refills. Greek cylinders are normally compatible with German regulators. Nevertheless, it is recommended to take the Europe withdrawal set with you.

At gas filling stations, according to law no. 3054 of 2002, gas is only supplied to gas-powered vehicles for safety reasons. Therefore, difficulties may arise here when motorhomes want to fill up their fixed gas tank, where the gas supply is used exclusively for gas-powered appliances, such as heating, refrigerator, stove, etc.

Great Britain

In Great Britain, German cylinders are no longer filled. However, it is possible to purchase English 6- and 13-kg cylinders from numerous Calorgas sales stations, which can be connected to German systems with an adapter (also available from Calorgas). Calorgas is also represented in Scotland. Info: www.calor.co.uk

Ireland

Gas cylinders are refilled at Noel Leaders Shop, Tuam Road, Galway. Further refilling options can be obtained from Calor Kosangas, Dublin, tel. (01) 50 5000, and Cork, tel. (021) 661269.

Iceland

Gas cylinders can be filled at Esso in Reykjavík at Sundahöfn (Kleppsmýrarvegur, not far from campsite). Also at some "N1" gas stations you can exchange the usual gray gas bottle. Information about exchanging or filling gas bottles can also be obtained directly from an "N1 store" in Akueyri, phone: 461 3444 or 461 552, e-mail: aey@n1.is. Have Hafnarfjörður filled,

Gas tanks can be purchased from a company behind the aluminum plant in but must be registered with Esso and sales are also through Esso. The yellow Icelandic bottles fit German systems with a rubber ring placed in the regulator port.

At Esso in Reykjavík you get the rubber ring for free with the bottle. It should be noted that gas in Iceland is more than 3 times as expensive as in Germany.

Italy

Gas supply in Italy is basically unproblematic. You can get gas at special exchange or refilling stations, but there is no list of such stations. Normally, the individual campsites know the addresses or have their own exchange or refilling stations.

Customary bottles are sold only in the sizes 0.5 kg, 2 kg or 3 kg, rarely you can find 5 kg bottles. 11 kg bottles are not common. Adapters are almost always necessary, both to connect Italian bottles to German regulators and to eventually refill German bottles in Italy.

Therefore, it is recommended to carry the Europe fill and draw kit. The dispensing of liquid gas at gas filling stations for camping vehicles with permanently installed gas tanks, for use in heating, cooking, etc. is prohibited for tax reasons.

Croatia

Cylinders whose inspection is not older than five years are refilled in the branches of the supplier INA, partly in private companies and also in many camping sites. It is recommended to take the Europe filling set with you, and appropriate adapters can also be purchased at INA branches.

Morocco

Refilling of German cylinders is possible at many gas factories in the following cities: Tiznit, Agadir (direction Tafrarroute), Nador, Mohammedia (at the southern arterial road), Sidi Ifni, Safi, Taza (north to the Rif mountains, after the bridge on the right). The blue bottles of Campinggaz are also available.

Netherlands

Dutch bottles are the same as the German ones. Filling or swapping is not a problem.

Austria

In the alpine republic the same cylinders are used as in Germany, therefore exchanging empty gas cylinders for full ones is no problem.

Poland

Exchange and filling possible. The cylinders are the same as in Germany.

Portugal

Portuguese cylinders can be borrowed at Repsol or Cepsa gas stations (procedure similar to Spain).

Switzerland

German bottles can only be filled in exceptional cases via an adapter. However, it is possible to rent a Swiss cylinder with pressure regulator. Information at Shell Gas, Tel.: 0041 327 587 555.

Slovenia

German gas cylinders and tanks are filled in Slovenia without any problems, usually not even an adapter is needed. Gas is available at Plinarna Ljubljana, Plinarna Maribor, Internia DD Ljubljana in Kozina and OMV Istrabenz DOO in Koper. Information is also available at campsites.

Spain

In the past, it was not allowed by law in Spain to sell gas at gas stations to private individuals and thus also to tourists. In the meantime, the ban has been relaxed so that gas can be sold to private individuals and thus also to tourists. Since mid-July 2003, permanently installed containers (gas tanks) at gas filling stations may be refilled.

However, it is still not allowed to fill 5- and 11-kg gas cylinders, which are commonly used in our country. Our earlier information still applies here: Info from March 2003: German tourists can get 6-kg gas bottles at Repsol gas stations and even 12.5-kg gas bottles at Cepsa gas stations with a kind of deposit contract. The cylinders can later be returned to the gas stations for a refund of the deposit amount.

For Cepsa gas stations, there is a list of stations where you can get the deposit bottles on the Internet at the address www .cepsa.es: Go to www.cepsa.es with the mouse pointer on the image with the gas station "qué ofr ecemos", click on "estaciones de servicio" and then to the right on "red de estaciones de sevicio". A new page will appear with the map of Spain/Portugal, click or enter the corresponding province, list will be displayed.

To connect the spanish gas bottle you need a spanish regulator (with hose nozzle) and a hose with a left/right connector with spigot. You can get this in a hardware store. Then you can connect the Spanish gas bottle without problems, in spite of the circumferential edge.

Info from December 1999: Especially specialized companies (e.g. Repsol) offer the purchase of a so-called "X-Policy".

This means that the gas connection of the existing plant is modified/adapted so that Spanish butane gas cylinders can be connected.

Then one rents one or two Spanish gas bottles, with which one can take up now the gas supply in the camper or caravan again. These bottles can be filled again and again. The refilling of the Spanish bottles is to be very economical.

Under the Spanish telephone number 901 100 100 one can inquire with the company Repsol (allegedly one speaks also German, English and French) the nearest customer service, which sends a technician. Or you can ask the reception at the campsite. Approximate total costs of about 70,- € are to be expected.

You can reach Repsol headquarters in Spain at the following numbers: Repsol Headquarters Tel.: 0034-901 10 01 00; Repsol Barcelona, Tel.: 0034-934 36 46 79 and Tel.: 0034-932 15 06 54; Cepsa Headquarters: Tel.: 0034-913 37 75 29.

Czech Republic

Cylinders and tanks can be refilled. The largest suppliers are Agip, Bohemia Gas, BP -R, -esk- Plyn, Krainpol, Primaplyn Flaga-Plyn. Turkey sale of 2 and 12 kg cylinders at the company Ipragaz. A list of stations can be found at: www.ipragaz.com.tr/tupgaz-size-en-yakin-bayi. Here you have to enter the city and the district. Then one gets the different stations indicated.

Adapters are necessary and can be bought at the stations with hose for 20,- €. It is possible to return the bottles at the end of the stay in Turkey against return of deposit. After member information also at some autogas filling station the filling of euro bottles is to be possible. Status 06/12

Hungary

Cylinders and tanks can be refilled. In Hungary, the gray cylinders with the same connection thread commonly used in Germany are used. The largest suppliers in the country are Primagaz, Totalgaz, Shellgas, and Mol.

Norway

In Norway, the autogas filling station network "LPG Norge" (approx. 100 stations) can also be used to refill the gas cylinders commonly used in Germany. Appropriate adapters are available. A PDF list of stations can be downloaded from the Internet at lpgnorge.no.

AGA offers tourists the following solution: The tourist can buy a Norwegian 11-kg cylinder (approx. 1,200.- NOK incl. propane filling) and an adapter (approx. 300.- NOK) at one of AGA's 800 or so branches; recently it should also be possible to obtain 5-kg cylinders. At the end of the trip, each branch of AGA will take back the cylinder and refund NOK 400. (gray) and can show a receipt less than 6 months old. The adapter is not taken back and remains the property of the tourist. An overview of gas dealers (also for Sweden and Finland) can be obtained from AGA, www.aga.no, fax: 0047 2202 7805 or Statoil Marketing, fax: 0047 2296 2210. Attention: The exchange of cylinders in Norway is very expensive, about 35,- € (11-kg-bottle).

Sweden and Finland

Also in these countries AGA has several dealer stations, where you can rent gas cylinders like in Norway. Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish gas cylinders should be compatible.

The exchange condition for the repayment is that the tourist a propane bottle of AGA of a Norwegian bottle e.g. in Sweden is thus no problem. In Finland gas cylinders are also sold by the company Tehokaasu, www.tehokaasu.fi. Available at "NESTE" gas stations and rural stores.