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470 kilometers long, a diameter of 1.40 meters and a transport capacity of more than 35 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year: the Ostsee-Pipeline-Anbindungsleitung (Baltic Sea pipeline connection line) or OPAL for short is one of the largest German and indeed European energy infrastructure projects to be carried out in recent decades and will make a significant contribution towards ensuring a secure energy supply for Europe. The OPAL is expected to be completed by the in 2011. From 2011 onwards, it will accept the natural gas from the Nord Stream pipeline that runs through the Baltic Sea and transport it from Greifswald towards Olbernhau on the Czech-German border. The OPAL will link the Baltic Sea pipeline with the existing natural gas transport systems. WINGAS GmbH & Co. KG is constructing the pipeline on behalf of OPAL NEL TRANSPORT GmbH and E.ON Ruhrgas AG.
Against a backdrop of increasing demand and declining domestic production, investigations carried out by the International Energy Agency (IEA, World Energy Outlook 2007) have revealed that by 2015 around 75 per cent of Europe’s natural gas requirements will have to be covered by imports. In order to ensure a secure energy supply, the member countries of the European Union must therefore rely to an increasing extent on imported natural gas. In addition to access to sources of natural gas and long-term supply agreements with producers, transport routes in particular will play a vital role in securing energy supplies in the future. One of the key projects for securing the future supply of energy for Germany and Europe is the construction of the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline which will run through the Baltic Sea. An important part of this infrastructure project is the OPAL which will provide an additional link to the existing European long-distance gas pipelines and the planned Norddeutsche Erdgas-Leitung (North German natural gas pipeline) or NEL which will connect Greifswald with Achim near Bremen.
In the future, almost a third of the expected additional demand for imported gas in Europe could be covered by supplies from the Nord Stream, the OPAL and the NEL. “With these projects, WINGAS is making a significant contribution towards ensuring a secure energy supply for Europe,” explained Dr. Rainer Seele, Chairman of WINGAS GmbH & Co. KG. “This infrastructure has already become a hub of European natural gas transport. Other regions will now be able to benefit from this expansion as well.” The WINGAS TRANSPORT network of natural gas pipelines is directly connected to the major European transit pipelines from Russia and the North Sea and is also networked with the European trading hubs in Belgium, the Netherlands and Great Britain.
The planning for the OPAL pipeline is continuing to make good progress: following the completion of the regional planning procedures, the planning approval processes are now underway in all three states concerned - Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony and Brandenburg. The first permits from the authorities are expected in early summer this year. The construction of the OPAL can then begin. By making these investments, WINGAS is also helping to create added value within the region. Although the main construction contracts for laying the pipeline are awarded to specific specialist companies, it is customary practice for these companies to award some of the construction work to subcontractors based in the local area.
Once the construction work has been completed, the recultivation and restoration phase will begin. WINGAS provides long-term support when it comes to developing and caring for the nature conservation and forestry compensation areas which are stipulated by the authorities during the approval procedure. “Long-distance pipelines do not always follow the shortest route – they follow the route which best meets the requirements of the population and the environment,” explained Dr. Seele. “When planning a natural gas pipeline route, we take into account not only any ecologically sensitive areas and elements of infrastructure such as transport routes and built-up areas but also the supply security of the region concerned.” The plans also take into account the landscape conditions. For example, the working strip in a forest is narrower than in open spaces. The route that is decided on is the result of dialog between the authorities responsible and the developers. After the initial detailed planning has been carried out, discussions are held with the site owners and the necessary rights of way are obtained.
However, the Kassel-based company takes into account environmental issues not only when planning but also when constructing and operating the pipeline. “We comply with all national legislation regarding environmental protection and safety and also maintain our own recognized high standards,” said Dr. Rainer Seele. In addition, the companies enlisted to carry out the work must comply with these strict guidelines and maintain extremely high quality standards. “In the interests of environmental protection, any interference with the natural surroundings and countryside are kept to a minimum.” An ecological supervisory team oversees and assists with the implementation of construction solutions which are contractually required in order to protect the landscape and the environment. The team provides this support throughout the project cycle, from the preparatory phase to the recultivation and restoration of the project route. “WINGAS can draw on decades of experience and expertise in the construction of long-distance pipelines – we know exactly what we are doing,” said Seele.
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