NEL pipeline

{{Infobox pipeline

| name = NEL pipeline

| type = Natural gas

| photo = Hasenhäge NEL-Erdgas-Pipeline Bau 2011-05-15 009.JPG

| caption = Constructions south of Schwerin

| map = {{maplink |type=line |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-align=center |zoom=5}}

| country = Germany

| state =

| province =

| coordinates =

| lat =

| long =

| direction = east-west

| start = Lubmin

| through = Sülstorf
Achim

| finish = Rehden

| par =

| owner = NEL Gastransport GmbH

| partners = Wintershall Dea
Gazprom

| operator =

| technical_service_provider =

| contractors =

| construction = 2011

| est = 2012 (first stage)
2013 (second stage)

| decom =

| length = 440

| discharge = {{convert|20|e9m3/a}}

| diameter_in = 56

| compressor_stations_no =

| compressor_stations =

}}

The NEL (Nordeuropäische Erdgasleitung (English: Northern European natural gas pipeline), formerly known as Norddeutsche Erdgasleitung, is a {{convert|440|km|mi}} long natural gas pipeline in Germany.

Route

The pipeline runs from Lubmin near Greifswald through Sülstorf and Achim to Rehden. It connects the Nord Stream 1 pipeline with the Rehden-Hamburg and MIDAL pipelines. The pipeline started operations on 5 November 2012.

{{cite news

|url= http://www.kyivpost.com/content/russia-and-former-soviet-union/gas-supply-starts-through-nord-streams-nel-stretch-under-new-contracts-315660.html

|title= Gas supply starts through Nord Stream's NEL stretch under new contracts

|newspaper = Kyiv Post

|date= 2012-11-06

|accessdate=2012-11-08}}

Between Sülstorf and Achim, it uses a pre-existing installation.{{Cite web | url=http://www.nel-gastransport.de/en/our-network/the-north-european-natural-gas-pipeline/ |title = The North European Natural Gas Pipeline}}

Technical features

The diameter of the pipeline is {{convert|56|in}} and it uses {{convert|100|bar}} operating pressure.

{{cite news

|url= http://pipelinesinternational.com/news/nel_online_and_on_time/078202/

|title= NEL: online and on time

|newspaper = Pipeline International

|date= 2012-10-11

|accessdate=2012-11-08}}

Its capacity is {{convert|20|e9m3|abbr=off}} of natural gas per year.

{{cite journal

| publisher= The Centre for Eastern Studies

| url= http://osw.waw.pl/en/epub/EW/2007/071114/01.htm

| author = Łukasz Antas

| title = Nord Stream: the current status and possible consequences of the project's implementation

| journal = East Week

| issue = 104

| date=2007-11-14

| accessdate=2008-08-09

| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080309183438/http://www.osw.waw.pl/en/epub/EW/2007/071114/01.htm

| archivedate = 2008-03-09}}

The pipeline is expected to cost around €1 billion.

{{cite news

| url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article217635.ece

| title = Gasunie takes NEL berth

| newspaper = Upstream Online

| publisher = NHST Media Group

| date = 2010-06-11

| accessdate = 2010-06-12}}

The developer of the pipeline asked exemption from the network access and transit fees regulation; however, this request was denied.

{{cite news

| agency= Reuters

| author= Vera Eckert

| url= http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKLP84033820090225?sp=true

| archive-url= https://archive.today/20130201042401/http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKLP84033820090225?sp=true

| url-status= dead

| archive-date= February 1, 2013

| title = Germany rules favourably on OPAL gas pipeline

| date=2009-02-25

| accessdate=2009-03-15}}

Project company

The pipeline was built by OPAL NEL TRANSPORT GmbH.{{cite press release

| publisher= Wingas

| url= http://www.wingas.de/pi-ont-08-01.html?&L=1

| title= OPAL NEL TRANSPORT GmbH applies for exemption from regulation. Project company plans Nord Stream pipeline links

| date= 2008-07-25

| accessdate= 2008-08-09

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110719114410/http://www.wingas.de/pi-ont-08-01.html?&L=1

| archive-date= 2011-07-19

| url-status= dead

}} It is operated by NEL Gastransport GmbH, owned by WIGA Transport Beteiligungs-GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture of Wintershall Dea and Gazprom.

See also

References

{{Reflist|2}}