Galsi SpAand Snam Rete Gas have signed a memorandum of understanding in the presence of the Algerian Minister for Energy, Chakib Khelil, and the Italian Minister for Economic Development, Pierluigi Bersani, for the construction of the Italian section of the new gas-import pipeline from Algeria to Italy via Sardinia. The project involves an offshore section between the Algerian coast and Southern Sardinia (near Cagliari), where it will link up with the Italian section. This will include a land section across Sardinia to Olbia, and another subsea section to Piombino in Tuscany, where the new pipeline will interconnect with the Italian national transportation network.
Overall, the pipeline will be roughly 900km long, approximately 600km of which will be offshore. It will be laid at a maximum depth of approximately 2,800m between Algeria and Sardinia, and its initial transportation capacity will be 8bn cum/yr. It is planned to come on-stream in 2012. Agreements signed on 15 November between Sonatrach, Edison (the key Italian player in the project), and Enel have already assured the supply of 2bn cum/yr of gas once the pipeline is operational, and Hera Trading has negotiated supply of a further 1bn cum/yr. The remaining gas will be sold by Sonatrach, including through sales to other operators.
The new memorandum of understanding covers the Italian section of the pipeline: Galsi, owned by Sonatrach (38%), Edison (16%), Enel (13.5%), Wintershall (9%), Hera (10%), and Regione Sardegna (10%), will be responsible for the engineering work and for obtaining the relevant permits and main authorizations, while Snam Rete Gas will be in charge of the construction and subsequent management of the pipeline. Galsi is now carrying out the detailed engineering part for the project and, specifically, the subsea survey of the two offshore sections in order to confirm their route.
Basket is empty.
