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 (1.2×10 12 cu ft) per year |
Diameter | 1,400 mm (55 in) |
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.
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]
The 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]
The 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.
Polish 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 ]
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