Balticconnector

Balticconnector is a bi-directional natural gas pipeline between Ingå, Finland and Paldiski, Estonia. It connects Estonian and Finnish gas grids. The pipeline provides Finland with an access to the Latvia's natural gas storage in Inčukalns. In addition, the pipeline enables construction of the regional liquefied natural gas terminal.[1]

For the planned subsea pipeline between Germany, Norway, Denmark and Sweden, see Baltic Gas Interconnector. For the planned subsea pipeline between Denmark and Poland, see Baltic Pipe.
Balticconnector
Location
CountryFinland
Estonia
General directionnorth–south–north
FromIngå, Finland (offshore Section)
Passes throughGulf of Finland
ToPaldiski, Estonia (offshore Section)
General information
Typenatural gas
PartnersElering
Baltic Connector OY
Manufacturer of pipesCorinth Pipeworks Pipe Industry SA
Installer of pipesAllseas
Pipe layerLorelay
Construction started8 June 2018
Commissioned11 December 2019
Technical information
Length151 km (94 mi)
Maximum discharge2.6 billion cubic metres per annum (92×10^9 cu ft/a)
Diameter500–700 mm (20–28 in)
No. of compressor stations2

History

The project was proposed originally by the Finnish natural gas company Gasum in cooperation with Eesti Gaas of Estonia. After implementation of the EU third energy package, EG Võrguteenus, a former subsidiary of Eesti Gaas, replaced the latter.[2] Later EG Võrguteenus was acquired by, and became a part of the Estonian transmission system operator Elering.[3] In October 2015, Gasum abandoned the project due to commercial viability.[4] It was replaced by the Finnish state-owned company Baltic Connector OY.[5]

The feasibility study was completed in May 2007. A preliminary environmental impact assessment programme was done in 2010. In 2010, the European Commission financed the investigation of possibilities to create more diversified natural gas grid within the Baltic Sea Region, which included also the Balticconnector project.[1] The seabed studies started in November 2013.[2][6][7]

The construction agreement was signed between Elering and Baltic Connector on 17 October 2016.[8] The cornerstone of the pipeline was laid on 8 June 2018 in Ingå. The ceremony was attended by Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure of Estonia Kadri Simson, Minister of the Environment and Energy of Finland Kimmo Tiilikainen, European Commission member Jyrki Katainen and the managers of Elering and Baltic Connector Oy.[9] Laying the offshore pipeline started on 20 May 2019 and was completed on 24 June 2019.[10][11] Shielding of the offshore section were completed by 12 July 2019.[12]

The onshore section in Estonia was filled with gas on 23 October 2019 and the offshore section was filled with gas on 27 November 2019.[13] The pipeline was inaugurated on 11 December 2019 by the ceremonies in Helsinki and Paldiski. The ceremonies were attended by presidents of Estonia and Finland Kersti Kaljulaid and Sauli Niinistö, ministers of economy Taavi Aas and Mika Lintilä, Deputy Director-General of European Commission Energy Directorate Klaus-Dieter Borchardt and the managers of Elering and Baltic Connector Oy.[14]

Balticconnector started commercial operations on 1 January 2020. During the first month of operation it supplied over a third of Finnish gas demand, 885 GWh. By comparison, the domestic Estonian consumption was 565 GWh.[15]

Technical description

The project consist 77 kilometres (48 mi) of a bi-directional offshore pipeline between Ingå in Finland and Paldiski in Estonia, 21 kilometres (13 mi) of onshore pipeline in Finland between Ingå and Siuntio, and 55 kilometres (34 mi) of onshore pipeline in Estonia between Paldiski and Kiili. .[8][9][13] It consists of metering and compressor stations in Ingå and in Kersalu, Estonia.[8][9] The offshore part is operated jointly by Elering and Baltic Connector, while on-shore sections of the pipeline will be developed separately by each party.[8] Originally, there was also a proposal for alternative 140-kilometre (87 mi) long route from Vuosaari (district of Helsinki] to Paldiski.[16]

The offshore section and the Finnish onshore section uses 500-millimetre (20 in) pipe with an operating pressure of 80 bars (8,000 kPa). The Estonian onshore section uses 700-millimetre (28 in) pipe with an operating pressure of 55 bars (5,500 kPa). In Estonia the pipeline is connected to the existing 700-millimetre (28 in) transmission pipeline from Latvia, which will be enhanced.[17] The initial capacity of pipeline is 0.9 billion cubic metres per annum (32 billion cubic feet per annum). Later, it will increased up to 2.6 billion cubic metres per annum (92 billion cubic feet per annum). The pipeline cost €300 million, of which 206 million was financed by the European Commission.[9]

Onshore section in Estonia was built by EG Ehitus AS, a subsidiary of Eesti Gaas, and the offshore section was built by Allseas.[9] The offshore pipeline was laid by the pipe-laying vessel Lorelay.[11] Pipes were supplied by Corinth Pipeworks Pipe Industry SA.[18]

See also

References
  1. BEMIP Gas Regional Investment Plan 2012–2021 (PDF) (Report). ENTSOG. pp. 14, 21, 68, 71. Retrieved 2014-01-24.
  2. "Gasum plans Estonian connection". The Baltic Times. 2013-11-27. Retrieved 2014-01-24.
  3. "TSO Elering signs merger with subsidiaries". The Baltic Course. 2015-12-16. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  4. "Gasum Dumps Balticconnector Plan". Subsea World News. 2015-10-06. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  5. "Elering with its Finnish partner submits grant application to EU Commission". The Baltic Course. 2015-10-15. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  6. "Balticconnector Seabed Studies Under Way". ERR. 2013-11-20. Retrieved 2014-01-24.
  7. "Balticconnector gas pipeline sea bottom studies start in Estonia". The Baltic Course. 2013-11-20. Retrieved 2014-01-24.
  8. "Elering, Baltic Connector OY sign agreement to build gas interconnection". ERR. BNS. 2016-10-17. Retrieved 2016-10-19.
  9. "Cornerstone for Balticconnector gas pipeline laid on Friday". ERR. BNS. 2018-06-08. Retrieved 2018-06-10.
  10. Woellwarth, Lydia (2019-06-24). "Pipelaying complete of Balticconnector's offshore pipeline". World Pipelines. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  11. "Lorelay completes Balticconnector offshore pipelay". Offshore Magazine. 2019-06-25. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  12. "Pressure tests next for offshore Balticconnector pipeline". Offshore Magazine. 2019-07-12. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  13. "Estonia-Finland natural gas link established as Balticconnector filled". ERR. 2019-11-29. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  14. "Balticconnector gas pipeline between Estonia and Finland opened". ERR. 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  15. "More than 800 GWh of natural gas moved via Balticconnector in January". ERR. 2020-02-15. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
  16. "Balticconnector Executive Summary" (PDF). Gasum. February 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2011-05-15.
  17. "European Commission grants Estonia, Finland €187.5 million for gas pipeline". ERR. BNS. 2016-07-15. Retrieved 2016-10-19.
  18. "Greek company Corinth Pipeworks to produce Balticconnector gas pipe". ERR. 2018-01-05. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
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