| OPAL pipeline | |
|---|---|
 OPAL pipeline near Weißenborn, Saxony | |
 Map of OPAL pipeline | |
| Location | |
| Country | Germany |
| General direction | north-south |
| From | Greifswald (Lubmin) |
| To | Olbernhau |
| Runs alongside | German eastern border |
| General information | |
| Type | natural gas |
| Partners | Wintershall Dea Gazprom |
| Operator | OPAL Gastransport GmbH & Co KG |
| Commissioned | 2011 |
| Technical information | |
| Length | 470 km (290 mi) |
| Maximum discharge | 35 billion cubic metres (1.2×10 |
| Diameter | 1,400 mm (55 in) |
TheOPAL (Ostsee-Pipeline-Anbindungsleitung) is a natural gas pipeline in Germany alongside the German eastern border. The OPAL pipeline is one of two projected pipelines connecting theNord Stream 1 pipeline to the existing pipeline grid in Middle and Western Europe, the other one being theNEL pipeline.
The 470-kilometre (290 mi) long pipeline runs fromLubmin nearGreifswald toOlbernhau near German-Czech border.[1] It connects the Nord Stream pipeline with theJAGAL (distributes gas from theYamal-Europe pipeline), and theSTEGAL (distributes gas from the Central-European Russian gas transit system (Transgas) viaCzechia andSlovakia) pipelines in Germany. On the German-Czech border the pipeline is connected with theGazela Pipeline, to connect gas export pipelines in Czechia.[2]
The diameter of the pipeline is 1,400 millimetres (55 in) and it has an operating pressure up to 100 bars (10,000 kPa).[1] The capacity of the pipeline is 35 billion cubic metres (1.2 trillion cubic feet) per year of natural gas. The compressor station in Radeland, Brandeburg, is built bySiemens.[3]
The pipeline cost around €1 billion. The construction was completed in 2011 and in August 2011 Nord Stream was connected with the OPAL pipeline.[4]
The pipeline was constructed by OPAL NEL TRANSPORT GmbH, a subsidiary ofWingas.[5] It is operated by OPAL Gastransport GmbH & Co KG, owned by WIGA Transport Beteiligungs-GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture ofWintershall Dea andGazprom.
Polish state-run gas firmPGNiG and PGNiG Supply & Trading tried to restrictGazprom's access to the pipeline.Oberlandesgericht Düsseldorf lifted the restrictions[6]
After the decision Gazprom increased the throughput to 72.5 million m3/d (26.462 billion/year).[citation needed]
