2023-12-06 23:04:01
LINZ. In order to ensure the security of gas supply in Austria, a 40 kilometer long pipeline should urgently be built through the Mühlviertel to complement the existing pipeline. However, there are a number of questions surrounding the 200 million euro project, not least for Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler, who does nothing to accelerate the project. Eight questions and answers:
1 Which gas pipelines are there in Austria?
Austria is a gas transit country and transports more gas than it needs. In Austria, Gas Connect Austria (GCA) operates two long-distance gas pipelines: one from east to south, which also supplies the northern Italian region, and a second from east to west, which is the West-Austria-Gasleitung (WAG) between Oberkappel in the west and Baumgarten in the east. The WAG is 245 kilometers long. There are distribution lines throughout the country.
2 Why is the line between Oberkappel and Bad Leonfelden needed?
The lines from east to west are traditionally much more powerful because for decades gas was delivered from Russia to and via Austria to the west and south. That is changing dramatically. We want to become more independent of Russian gas, and blocking gas deliveries from Russia to Europe through Ukraine might make this happen faster than expected. So we need high-performance lines that can transport gas via Germany to Austria and are also able to deliver gas further to Slovakia or the Czech Republic. The new line will also be hydrogen-compatible and therefore fit for the future. The new line would increase transport capacity by 30 percent or 27 terawatt hours.
3 How quickly can this line be built?
The GCA says commissioning is possible in 2027. At the political level, society is accused of acting too slowly. Commissioning is possible as early as 2025. “That is simply wrong,” says GCA boss Stefan Wagenhofer. The actual construction time is only one year. But you have to expect that the approval process will be significantly longer, and the planning work will also take time. You have to talk to each individual property owner and re-arrange easements, even if the new line is built just a few meters from the existing one, which can deliver gas to Germany.
4 How might construction be accelerated?
Wagenhofer says that Climate Protection Minister Gewessler has several options. On the one hand, through an acceleration law that will bring shorter approval procedures, on the other hand, through funding and finally through a reorganization of the tariff system for the transit of gas. Lots of points that the Greens in Germany have already taken care of and thus massively pushed the import of liquid gas.
5 Are the GCA owners in favor of building the pipeline?
51 percent of GCA belongs to the association, the rest is held by the German Allianz Group and the Italian pipeline company SNAM through AS Gasentwicklung GmbH. Everyone is behind the project, says Wagenhofer.
6 Why does the GCA want funding?
The line is not being built because demand is currently so high. On the contrary, it is intended to ensure security of supply if less or no more gas comes from the East. This requires funding. Wagenhofer can imagine that a third would be paid by the federal government, a third by the GCA and a third would come in through line tariffs. “So far we have not received an appointment with the minister. And without her application, the finance minister cannot provide funding. The project is one of national interest,” says Wagenhofer.
7 How much gas flows through Austria, how much do we need ourselves?
Austria consumes 85 TWh per year. 600 TWh are currently coming from the east, and 90 TWh can be transported in one direction and 70 in the other via the WAG.
8 What does Leonore Gewessler say regarding this?
“We welcome the announcement to build by 2027, the project is of central importance,” the ministry said. The project has not yet been applied for in Upper Austria, but people are available for discussions at any time. However, the approval granted by E-Control gives GCA a legal claim to reimbursement of the investment costs. The GCA therefore bears no risk.
Author
Dietmar Mascher
Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Head of Business Editor
Dietmar Mascher
1701920396
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