Czech transfer station to protect EU gas supplies
15 Oct 2010
Brandov, Czech Republic – NET4GAS sro has started to build a new border transfer station in Brandov, which is of key importance for the new high-pressure gas pipeline Gazelle, which is currently being built.
The Gazelle pipeline is a new transmission route for Russian gas, which will enhance the security of gas supplies in the European Union. In the event of the interruption of gas supplies via Ukraine, it will have a strategic importance both for the Czech Republic and surrounding countries.
“The planning permission has already been issued for the remaining part of Gazelle,” said Thomas Kleefuss, executive director of NET4GAS.
“We are now waiting for the establishment of easements with the last owners of plots which the pipeline should cross. The total amount of our investment should amount to approximately 400 million Euros,” he added.
The Gazelle project has been planned to follow a route along gas pipelines that are already in operation. The only new area which it crosses is between Mladotice and Chomutov, but it will be a long way off the towns and populated areas.
The pipeline will be connected to the existing gas system in the Czech Republic via in Brandov, Jirkov, Svinomazy and Primda.
The construction of a new pipeline will make room in the current transmission system. It will open up the possibility to direct supplies to the Czech Republic via new, alternative routes, such as the planned NABUCCO pipeline.
“As a result, GAZELLE will significantly enhance the security of supplies to the Czech Republic and, at the same time, it will promote competition on the Czech gas market,” Kleefuss explained.
Gazelle will be part of the so-called “northern transmission route”, which will bring natural gas to Europe from hitherto little used reservoirs in the Tyumen Oblast.
The Nord Stream and OPAL pipelines whereby gas will be transported from Russia on the bottom of the Baltic Sea to Germany and then on to the Czech border will be expanded.
The total length of the pipeline is planned to be 169 km and it should go from Brandov to the border transfer station Rozvadov/Waidhaus. There it will be connected to the transit system MEGAL whereby gas is transported across Southern Germany on to France.
