The OPAL (Ostsee-Pipeline-Anbindungsleitung) is a natural gas pipeline in Germany alongside the German eastern border. The OPAL pipeline is one of two projected pipelines connecting the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to the existing pipeline grid in Middle and Western Europe, the other one being the NEL pipeline.
| OPAL pipeline | |
|---|---|
 OPAL pipeline near Weißenborn, Saxony | |
 Map of 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 | Wintershall Dea Gazprom |
| Operator | OPAL Gastransport GmbH & Co KG |
| Commissioned | 2011 |
| Technical information | |
| Length | 470 km (290 mi) |
| Maximum discharge | 35 billion cubic metres (1.2×1012 cu ft) per year |
| Diameter | 1,400 mm (55 in) |
Route
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The 470-kilometre (290 mi) long pipeline runs from Lubmin near Greifswald to Olbernhau near German-Czech border.[1] It connects the 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 Czechia and Slovakia) pipelines in Germany. On the German-Czech border the pipeline is connected with the Gazela Pipeline, to connect gas export pipelines in Czechia.[2]
Technical features
editThe diameter of the pipeline is 1,400 millimetres (55 in) and it has an operating pressure up to 100 bars (10,000 kPa).[1] The capacity of the pipeline is 35 billion cubic metres (1.2 trillion cubic feet) per year of natural gas. The compressor station in Radeland, Brandeburg, is built by Siemens.[3]
The pipeline cost around €1 billion. The construction was completed in 2011 and in August 2011 Nord Stream was connected with the OPAL pipeline.[4]
Project company
editThe pipeline was constructed by OPAL NEL TRANSPORT GmbH, a subsidiary of Wingas.[5] It is operated by OPAL Gastransport GmbH & Co KG, owned by WIGA Transport Beteiligungs-GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture of Wintershall Dea and Gazprom.
Access by Gazprom
editPolish state-run gas firm PGNiG and PGNiG Supply & Trading tried to restrict Gazprom's access to the pipeline. Oberlandesgericht Düsseldorf lifted the restrictions [6]
After the decision Gazprom increased the throughput to 72.5 million m3/d (26.462 billion/year).[citation needed]
See also
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References
edit- ^ 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. 7 (2). Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne. Retrieved 2008-03-05.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Markéta Hulpachová (2007-05-23). "RWE plans new pipeline". The Prague Post. Archived from the original on 2007-06-01. Retrieved 2007-11-24.
- ^ "Siemens wins Baltic pipeline compressor order". Offshore. PennWell Corporation. 2010-03-17. Archived from the original on 2011-01-03. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
- ^ Blau, John (2011-08-26). "Nord Stream pipeline now connected to German link". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
- ^ "OPAL NEL TRANSPORT GmbH applies for exemption from regulation. Project company plans Nord Stream pipeline links" (Press release). Wingas. 2008-07-25. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
- ^ "Gazprom gets access to OPAL pipeline". 2017-07-31.
External links
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