The first string of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is filled with technical gas and is ready for operation, the operator Nord Stream 2 AG, a subsidiary of the Gazprom concern, said on Monday, October 18.
“As of October 18, the procedure for filling the first string of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline was completed. In accordance with the plan and design requirements, the string was filled with so-called technical gas in the amount of approximately 177 million cubic meters, which provides a pressure level of 103 bar in the pipeline. This pressure is enough to start transporting gas in the future, “the message says.
Commissioning works are continuing on the second line, Nord Stream 2 noted, promising to additionally inform about further technical steps.
To launch the gas pipeline needs certification
On September 10, Gazprom announced the complete completion of the construction of Nord Stream 2. On October 4, the first string of the gas pipeline began to be filled with gas. Nord Stream 2 expects to commission it by the end of 2021. However, to start gas supplies from the Russian Federation, the project needs certification as an independent operator of the transport system.
The German national regulator, the Federal Agency for Networks (Bundesnetzagentur), received an application for certification from the company on 13 September. The term for consideration of the document is four months. Then the draft decision will be submitted to the European Commission for study. Brussels officials will have another two months to work out their own opinion. In addition, the European Commission can take another two months if it needs more information.
After the Federal Network Agency receives the opinion of Brussels, it will have another two months to make a final decision. Thus, the certification process can take eight to ten months.
See also:
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European Gas Market: Events and Projects in 2020
When will Nord Stream 2 be completed?
The main gas intrigue of 2020: when and how will Russia complete the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline? The laying of the remaining 160 kilometers in the Baltic may take until the 1st quarter of 2021. US sanctions forced the Swiss company Allseas to recall its pipe-laying vessels (photo). They are intended to be replaced by the “Akademik Chersky”, but he needed a large-scale modernization in the Far East port of Nakhodka.
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European Gas Market: Events and Projects in 2020
Ukraine retained gas transit
The main gas event of the year took place already on January 1: a new five-year agreement on Russian supplies to the European Union via Ukraine came into effect. For the sake of stopping this transit, the Nord Stream 2 and Turkish Stream were built, but Moscow’s plan was thwarted. Gazprom had to guarantee Kiev pumping and payment at an increased tariff of 65 billion cubic meters in 2020 and 40 billion in subsequent years.
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European Gas Market: Events and Projects in 2020
Eugal no losses
So far, “Nord Stream – 2” with a capacity of 55 billion cubic meters. is idle a year, its continuation through the territory of Germany to the Czech Republic Eugal for 51 billion continues to be built. The first line was commissioned in December 2019, the second will be laid according to plan by the end of 2020. Gazprom has booked the capacity of the entire gas pipeline in advance and pays regardless of the volume of pumping. So this is a win-win project for its European partners.
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European Gas Market: Events and Projects in 2020
Turkish Stream is underutilized yet
Instead of four lines of the Turkish Stream, two of 15.75 billion cubic meters each were laid. They were commissioned at a ceremony in Istanbul on January 8 by the presidents of the Russian Federation and Turkey. One, replacing the route through Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, supplies the western part of Turkey. The second in 2020 will remain half empty: a gas pipeline capable of pumping such large volumes through Serbia further to the EU is still under construction in Bulgaria.
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European Gas Market: Events and Projects in 2020
Azerbaijani gas for Bulgaria
Simultaneously with the Balkan Stream, as Sofia calls the continuation of the Turkish Stream, the IGB gas trunkline will start operating in Bulgaria by the end of 2020. It is being built by the Bulgarian-Greek-Italian company ICGB with the support of the EU. This interconnector will connect the gas transmission systems of Greece and Bulgaria and will allow receiving Azerbaijani gas from the TAP pipeline, which will reduce dependence on Gazprom.
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European Gas Market: Events and Projects in 2020
TAP continues TANAP
In 2020, the TAP Trans-Adriatic Gas Pipeline with a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters will be put into operation. The Turkish minister and the Greek prime minister celebrated the start of its construction in 2016. It is a continuation of the TANAP, completed in 2019, through which gas from Azerbaijan goes through Georgia to the west of Turkey. The task of the TANAP-TAP Southern Gas Corridor is to provide fuel to Greece, Albania and Italy, bypassing Russia.
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European Gas Market: Events and Projects in 2020
EastMed: Israeli gas for the EU
On January 2, 2020, the leaders of Cyprus, Greece and Israel launched the construction of the world’s longest undersea gas pipeline EastMed with a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters. It is called upon in five years to ensure supplies from the Israeli offshore fields Leviathan and Tamar, as well as the Cypriot Aphrodite, through Crete and mainland Greece to Italy. For Gazprom, it is the second largest market in the EU after Germany.
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European Gas Market: Events and Projects in 2020
Baltic Pipe: Norwegian gas for Poland
Poland is still a major buyer of Russian gas. But she does not intend to renew the contract with Gazprom expiring by the end of 2022. Warsaw relies mainly on supplies from the Norwegian offshore fields (pictured) via the Baltic Pipe through Denmark and the Baltic. Its construction in 2020-2022 will be another major gas project receiving financial support from the EU.
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European Gas Market: Events and Projects in 2020
Finnish gas market has become competitive
In 2020, a qualitatively new stage began on the Finnish gas market: it became competitive. Gazprom ceased to be the sole supplier after the completion of construction (pictured) of the Balticconnector pipeline. It connected Finland with the Estonian gas transmission system, and through it with gas storage facilities in Latvia and Lithuania and with the Lithuanian LNG terminal in Klaipeda. The EU paid for 75% of the project.
Author: Andrey Gurkov
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