Trans-Mediterranean Pipeline

The Transmed ( spelling also TransMed, short for Trans - Mediterranean gas pipeline ), from 2000, also known as gas line " Enrico Mattei " (GEM ) is an approximately 2,500 -kilometer pipeline route, through which natural gas from Algeria through Tunisia through the Mediterranean is delivered to Sicily and up to the north of Italy.

The link went into operation in 1983 and several times over the following decades expanded. Responsible are the construction and operation ( directly and indirectly through subsidiaries), the oil and gas companies Sonatrach on the Algerian side and Eni on the Italian side.

History

First reflections on the construction of a pipeline connection to Europe there was already immediately after the discovery of large gas fields in Algeria Hassi R'Mel mid -1950s. After the development of the gas field, the plans were carried out from the mid- 1960s concrete and there were feasibility studies.

After negotiations between Algeria and Italy, the state-owned enterprises Sonatrach and Eni agreed in principle in 1972 on the supply of gas. After Tunisia also had agreed to the passage, the first contract was completed in 1977, which provided for the supply of 12.3 billion m³ / yr over 25 years and the construction of the dedicated pipeline.

The construction work began in 1978. A pioneering noted at the time, in particular the crossing of the Mediterranean is because the Transmed pipeline was next to the Ekofisk pipeline ( in the North ), the first major subsea pipeline in the world. The laying of the pipeline took over the Eni subsidiary Saipem what these used the specially built for this occasion, pipelaying special vessel Castoro Sei. In 1983 the line was completed and the first gas passed.

Eni and Sonatrach agreed in 1990, the capacity to increase by 7 bcm / a, for which 1991-1997 a second line built and the compressor stations have been upgraded.

In 2000, the Transmed pipeline received in honor of Eni Enrico Mattei manager whose commitment had contributed significantly to the emergence of Algeria Algerian- Italian gas supply, its name.

In 2007-2008 and 2010-2012, the capacity of the pipeline was increased again, what other lines and compressor stations were built. 2012 reached the pipelines its current capacity of up to 33 bcm / a

Sections and stations of the route

Builders, owners and operators

The builders, owners and operators of the different line sections are:

• The section in Algeria was and is completely under the control of the Algerian state company Sonatrach, this is also supplier of the gas.
• The section through the territory of Tunisia was built by the Société pour la Construction du Gazoduc Transtunisien ( SCOGAT ) on behalf of Trans - Tunesian Pipeline Company ( TTPC ), a 100 % subsidiary of Eni. After the construction of the pipeline went over from the TTPC in the possession of the Tunisian state-owned company Société Tunisienne du Gazoduc Trans - Tunisia ( SOTUGAT ), the Eni admitted the exclusive rights in return. Is operated by the Tunisian section of the Société de Service du Gazoduc Transtunisien ( SERGAZ ).
• For the construction and operation of the section on which the line crosses the Mediterranean ( the Strait of Sicily ), the Trans-Mediterranean Pipeline Company ( TMPC ), a joint subsidiary of Eni and Sonatrach (50 % ), responsible.
• The transmission network in Italy to which the Transmed pipeline belongs is operated by Snam Rete Gas, a subsidiary of Eni.

The marketing of transport capacity of the pipeline takes over since 2005, the Italian company Transmed SpA also a subsidiary of Eni and Sonatrach.

Route

The route has a total length of about 2,580 kilometers. of which about 550 km in Algeria, 370 km in Tunisia, 160 km and 1500 km in the Mediterranean in Italy are. At a distance of about 150-250 km the pressure is raised by a compressor stations (total of eleven intermediate stations ).

The pipeline starts at Hassi R'Mel in the north of Algeria. This gas is fed from the local gas field mainly. Smaller proportions come via an upstream pipeline system from the southeast of fields at Hassi Messaoud ( Haoud El Hamra ) and from the border with Libya. In the future, currently ( 2013) is under construction, trans-Saharan pipeline from Nigeria bind here.

From Hassi R'Mel the route runs to the northeast via a compressor station at Ain Naga (north of the Chott Melrhir ) until it is 550 km at Bir El Ater crossing the Algerian- Tunisian border.

On the Tunisian side begins at the transfer station Oued Saf Saf (O- Safsaf ) the second section, the 370 km long Trans Tunisian Pipeline ( TTPC pipeline ) that runs on compressor stations at Feriana, Sbeitla, Sbikha and Korba Menzel Temime until at El Haouaria near the Cape Bon reaching the Tunisian coast.

From the Cape Bon the line crosses a subsea pipeline to a depth of 600 m at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea 155 km wide Strait of Sicily. This section is called by the operating company also TMPC pipeline.

In Mazara del Vallo, the line reaches the coast of Sicily. From here the route runs across the island. Compressor stations at Enna in the center of the island and at Messina on Sicily's east coast provide the necessary pressure increase. After crossing the (compared to the Strait of Sicily) relatively narrow Strait of Messina, the route reaches in Favazzina near Scilla the Italian mainland. More stations along the Italian peninsula are Tarsia, Montesano, Melizzano, Gallese and Terra Nuova.

The pipeline ends in Minerbio at Bologna in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. Here, the gas is fed into the northern Italian distribution network. In addition, here close further transmission networks, via the gas to Switzerland (via the Gries Pass ) to Austria (via Tarvisio ) and Slovenia (via Gorizia ) can be supplied.

Tabular overview

The sections of the route in the summary table:

• Hassi R'Mel (supply with compressor station! 532.9551695503.250837532 ° 57 ' 19 " N, 003 ° 15' 03" O32.9551693.250837 )
• ? (Compressor station! 534.1738385504.469612534 ° 10 ' 26 " N, 004 ° 28 ' 11 " O34.1738384.469612 )
• Ain Naga (compressor station! 534.6754645506.190056534 ° 40 '32 "N, 006 ° 11' 24 " O34.6754646.190056 )
• ? ( Measuring and control station! 534.6406945507.400848534 ° 38 ' 26 " N, 007 ° 24' 03" O34.6406947.400848 )
• Bir El Ater ( transfer station! 534.7681675508.277565534 ° 46 ' 05 " N, 008 ° 16' 39" O34.7681678.277565 )

• Oued Saf Saf (O- Safsaf ) Feriana (compressor station! 534.7688505508.293916534 ° 46 ' 08 " N, 008 ° 17' 38 " O34.768858.293916 )
• Sbeitla ( compressor station, 35 ° 14 ' 44 "N, 9 ° 10' 48" O35.245619.179893 )
• Sbikha ( measuring and control station? )
• Korba ( measuring and control station? )
• Menzel Temime ( measuring and control station? )
• El Haouaria / Cape Bon ( compressor station, 37 ° 1 ' 5 " N, 11 ° 3 ' 10" O37.01811111.052761 )

• Mazara del Vallo ( transfer station, 37 ° 40 '7 " N, 12 ° 32' 26" O37.66864612.540518 )
• Enna ( compressor station, 37 ° 33 ' 40 " N, 14 ° 21 ' 48" O37.56111214.363294 )
• Messina ( compressor station, 38 ° 16 ' 20 " N, 15 ° 35' 19" O38.27234715.588741 )
• Tarsia ( compressor station, 39 ° 35 ' 23 " N, 16 ° 15 ' 3" O39.58974116.250925 )
• Montesano ( compressor station, 40 ° 16 '0 " N, 15 ° 46 ' 42" O40.26673915.778427 )
• Melizzano ( compressor station, 41 ° 10 ' 8 " N, 14 ° 28' 18" O41.16898714.471725 )
• Gallese ( compressor station, 42 ° 21 ' 44 " N, 12 ° 26 ' 35" O42.36217512.443154 )
• Terra Nuova ( compressor station, 43 ° 33 ' 27 " N, 11 ° 38 ' 30" O43.55742811.641763 )
• Minerbio ( transfer and compressor station, 44 ° 36 ' 29 " N, 11 ° 30 ' 2" O44.60799911.500422 )

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Economic importance and safety

The Transmed line is an important pipeline in the trans-Mediterranean network (next to the Maghreb -Europe pipeline, Medgaz, GALSI, Green Stream, ... ) Since the producing countries in North Africa (especially Algeria and Libya) about 60% of gas demand in southern European countries (especially Italy, France, Spain ) cover is the availability and security of the line of great importance for Europe's energy supply. So is the Transmed line on the Critical Foreign Dependencies Initiative, a list of the U.S. government, which lists for U.S. strategic infrastructure assets around the world.

Because of the great economic importance of the pipeline, the Western countries consider carefully the political stability and security in the countries of origin and transit. Especially in a time of political unrest in Algeria in the 1990s and during the unrest of the " Arab Spring " in the early 2010s - years in Algeria and Tunisia, there was concern parts of the pipeline could be under the control of Islamist extremists fall, the could disrupt supply. In fact, the Algerian gas supply systems were already at least two times target of terrorist attacks: In 1997 was the Transmed pipeline for five days out of service after terrorists had damaged it with a bomb. In 2013, the hostage-taking of In Amenas, while not the Transmed line directly, but concerned the upstream promotion occurred.