Specifically, 70 million will be allocated for the “WAG partial loop” as part of the West Austria gas pipeline. The section between Oberkappel and Bad Leonfelden will be extended by a 40-kilometer-long parallel pipeline.
Years-long dispute over “Mickey Mouse amount”
Even though all factions support the proposal, the SPÖ and FPÖ have strongly criticized the fact that it has taken so long for the project to be started because of a dispute over responsibility for financing. SP representative Michaela Schmidt spoke of a delaying strategy at the expense of security of supply. “They have been arguing regarding this Mickey Mouse amount for two years,” said the FPÖ representative Aexel Kassegger, who was also annoyed. This is “grossly negligent” in view of the fact that Russian gas might be cut off as early as next year.
NEOS MP Karin Doppelbauer also recognized “undignified arguments”. But Austria will not die if the capacity is not expanded: “There is enough gas on the market.” But the construction is certainly “strategically important”.
“This is our lifeline”
VP energy spokeswoman Tanja Graf apparently attaches enormous importance to the 40-kilometer pipeline: “This gas pipeline is our lifeline.” It is not just a technical infrastructure project, but a building block for the security of the energy supply. The pipeline can also transport hydrogen.
Green environmental spokesman Lukas Hammer stressed that the party was very well positioned even without the “WAG Loop” and might cope with a Russian failure. Addressing the SPÖ, he called on the Social Democrats to contribute the votes for the necessary two-thirds majority in the green gas amendment on Thursday: “This is where they can prove whether they are only talking regarding independence and the energy transition or whether they are also prepared to vote.”
