OPAL pipeline
| OPAL pipeline | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Germany |
| General direction | north-south |
| From | Greifswald (Lubmin) |
| To | Olbernhau |
| Runs alongside | German eastern border |
| General information | |
| Type | natural gas |
| Partners | Wingas, E.ON |
| Operator | OPAL NEL TRANSPORT GmbH |
| Technical information | |
| Length | 470 km (290 mi) |
| Maximum discharge | 35 billion cubic metres per year |
The OPAL (Ostsee Pipeline Anbindungs-Leitung) is a planned natural gas pipeline in Germany alongside the German eastern border. The OPAL pipeline is one of two projected pipelines to connect the Nord Stream pipeline to the existing pipeline grid in Middle and Western Europe, the other one being the NEL pipeline.
Route
The 470-kilometre (290 mi) long pipeline will run from Lubmin near Greifswald to Olbernhau near German-Czech border.[1] It would connect the planned Nord Stream pipeline with the JAGAL (distributes gas from the Yamal-Europe pipeline), and the STEGAL (distributes gas from the Central-European Russian gas transit system (Transgas) via Czech and Slovak republics) pipelines in Germany. On the German-Czech border the pipeline will be connected with the planned Gazela Pipeline, to connect gas export pipelines in the Czech Republic.[2]
Technical features
The diameter of the pipeline would be 1,400 millimetres (55 in) and it will have an operating pressure up to 100 bars (10,000 kPa).[1] The annual capacity of the pipeline would be 35 billion cubic meter (bcm) of natural gas. The pipeline is expected to cost around €1 billion. The construction is expected to start in the first half of 2008 and it would be completed in 2011.
Regulations
On 25 February 2009, the Germany's energy regulator exempted the OPAL pipeline from network access and transit fees regulation for 22 years after its launch.[3] However, the exemption from competition regulations may breach EU regulations, and The Economist reports that the EU are investigating [4]
Project company
The pipeline will be constructed and operated by OPAL NEL TRANSPORT GmbH, a subsidiary of Wingas.[5] 20% of the company is owned by E.ON Ruhrgas.[3]
See also
References
- ^ a b Lochner, Stefan; Bothe, David (September 2007). "From Russia with Gas An analysis of the Nord Stream pipeline's impact on the European Gas Transmission System with the Tiger-Model" (PDF). EWI Working Paper (07.02). Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
- ^ Markéta Hulpachová (2007-05-23). "RWE plans new pipeline". The Prague Post. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
- ^ a b Vera Eckert (2009-02-25). "Germany rules favourably on OPAL gas pipeline". Reuters. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
- ^ "He who pays for the pipelines calls the tune". Economist. 2009-07-16. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
- ^ "OPAL NEL TRANSPORT GmbH applies for exemption from regulation. Project company plans Nord Stream pipeline links" (Press release). Wingas. 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2008-08-09.