The European Commission (EC) is to help fund feasibility studies for 21 projects designed to bridge missing links in Europe's gas and electricity distribution grids.
The studies will cost a total 15 million ecus ($14 million), of which EC will pay half, and are intended to help operators decide how projects will be implemented and when they will be carried out.
Gas studies
Among the gas study projects will be the detailed route design and preparation of a detailed environmental impact assessment by Edison SpA of an Italian extension of the Volta natural gas pipeline, to take Russian gas from the Slovenian/Italian border to Ostiglia, 60 miles southwest of Venice.
Another will be conducted by Neste Oy for creation of a Nordic gas grid by linking the existing networks in Finland, Denmark, and Sweden. This will provide an additional route for Norwegian and Russian gas to market and may be extended to include the Baltic states.
Austria's OMV AG will undertake two studies, one for a new Austrian north-to-south pipeline known as Penta, and one for a new underground storage facility at a junction of three pipelines at Baumgarten.
In Spain, Enagas SA is planning a seismic survey of potential underground natural gas storage facilities at Jumilla and Reus. Also, Public Power Corp. of Greece is planning a link to the Albanian gas grid.
Power studies
Electricity distribution studies will be for links between Sweden and Norway, U.K. and Norway, U.K. and Netherlands, Greece and former Yugoslavia, and Greece and Bulgaria.
Christos Papoutsis, EC energy commissioner, said, "I wish to stress the vital role of trans-European energy networks in the evolving energy policy of the union, including the achievement of the single internal energy market and in the implementation of the energy charter. The liberalization of energy flows requires adequate interconnections. In addition, new supply lines and more thoroughly meshed grids are an important factor in reinforcing both overall security of supply and operational flexibility."
Copyright 1997 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
