Central European gas pipeline

Map of the line route

The Central European Gas Pipeline (Megal) is part of the European long-distance gas network in southern Germany. This natural gas pipeline network consists of two pipelines: Megal Nord and Megal Süd, which meet in Rothenstadt via a connecting line .

Import points are in Waidhaus from the neighboring network operator Net4Gas and Oberkappel from the Gas Connect Austria network via the West Austria gas pipeline . Export points are near Medelsheim to GRTgaz and Oberkappel. There are coupling points with supraregional networks from the SETG in Gernsheim to the TENP and Remich line ( Luxembourg ) in Mittelbrunn and from Rimpar in the direction of the Ruhr area .

The operator is Mittel-Europäische Gasleitungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG - MEGAL based in Essen, whose shareholders are Open Grid Europe (formerly E.ON Gastransport) with 51% of the shares and GRTgaz Deutschland (formerly Gaz de France Deutschland Transport) with 49 %.

history

The contract to build the Megal was signed by the original initiators, Ruhrgas AG and GDF , in 1975; the pipeline started operating in 1980.

Antitrust violation

As part of the planning for the construction of the Megal Pipeline, additional agreements were made in 1975 by the contractual partners GDF Suez and Ruhrgas on the division of gas markets in France and Germany. GDF Suez and E.ON Ruhrgas were accused of having continued to practice these market agreements in an inadmissible manner - these originally legal competition agreements have now violated EU law after the opening of the European gas markets since August 2000. In July 2009, the two companies were fined heavily by antitrust authorities. Both companies sued the decision and the original antitrust fine of € 533 million each was reduced to € 320 million each in June 2012.

expansion

Between Schwandorf and Windberg , mainly along the existing route of the Megal Süd (line 52), an approximately 72 km long parallel line was laid, which went into operation as planned in October 2012 (line 452). It serves to expand capacity for west-east transports in the direction of Eastern Europe. The partial parallelization (loop line) has a diameter of DN 1000 and can work with an operating pressure of up to 100 bar. The total investment was over € 130 million.

technology

Megal North

Natural gas compressor station Rothenstadt-Weiherhammer

Direction of gas flow: east to west

Operating pressure: 80 bar

Compressor stations : Frankenreuth near Waidhaus, Rothenstadt , Rimpar , Gernsheim , Mittelbrunn

Cable length:

Main line: 459 km
Parallel line: 449 km

Cable diameter:

Main line:
- Waidhaus - Rimpar: DN 1200 (213 km)
- Rimpar - Gernsheim: DN 1100 (111 km)
- Gernsheim - Mittelbrunn: DN 1000 (98 km)
- Mittelbrunn - Medelsheim: DN 900 (38 km)
Parallel line:
- Waidhaus - Obergailbach : DN 1100 (449 km)

Megal South

Measurement and control station at the Schwarzach exit point

Direction of gas flow: south to north (main direction) or north to south

Operating pressure:

Main line: 67.5 bar Compressor station: Wildenranna
Parallel line (loop): 67.5 bar Compressor station: Rothenstadt

Cable length:

Main line: 167 km
Parallel line: 72 km

Cable diameter:

Main line: DN 0800
Parallel line: DN 1000

Connection line Megal North - Megal South

(Schwandorf - Rothenstadt)

Line length: 40 km

Operating pressure:

Main line 67.5 bar
Parallel line: 100.0 bar

Cable diameter:

Main line: DN 0800
Parallel line: DN 1000

Direction of gas flow: south to north (main direction) or north to south

Compressor station: Rothenstadt

Individual evidence

↑ MEGAL's mega construction site from March 28, 2012.
↑ Annual financial statements for the financial year from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012, Open Grid Europe GmbH, Essen, viewed in the Federal Gazette on July 6, 2014
↑ Appendix to the 2013 balance sheet. GRTgaz Deutschland GmbH, p. 4 , accessed on July 6, 2014 .
↑ ^a ^b Decision of the Commission of July 8, 2009 in proceedings under Article 81 of the EC Treaty. (pdf; 686 kB) Full text of the antitrust decision on Megal. European Commission, July 8, 2009, accessed February 11, 2013 .
↑ The fines of € 553 million each imposed on E.ON and GDF Suez for splitting up the French and German natural gas markets will be reduced to € 320 million. Press release from the European Court of Justice. June 9, 2012, accessed February 11, 2013 .
↑ Presentation at the end of the Open Season. (pdf; 1.8 MB) (No longer available online.) eon gastransport, archived from the original ; Retrieved August 17, 2010 .
↑ Megal parallel line officially put into operation. Open Grid Europe press release . (No longer available online.) October 11, 2012, archived from the original ; Retrieved February 11, 2013 .

Web links

Commons : MEGAL - collection of images, videos and audio files

GRTgaz Germany

[1] MEGAL's mega construction site from March 28, 2012.

[2] Annual financial statements for the financial year from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012, Open Grid Europe GmbH, Essen, viewed in the Federal Gazette on July 6, 2014

[GRT2013-3] Appendix to the 2013 balance sheet. GRTgaz Deutschland GmbH, p. 4 , accessed on July 6, 2014 .

[entscheidung_2009-4] Decision of the Commission of July 8, 2009 in proceedings under Article 81 of the EC Treaty. (pdf; 686 kB) Full text of the antitrust decision on Megal. European Commission, July 8, 2009, accessed February 11, 2013 .

[5] The fines of € 553 million each imposed on E.ON and GDF Suez for splitting up the French and German natural gas markets will be reduced to € 320 million. Press release from the European Court of Justice. June 9, 2012, accessed February 11, 2013 .

[Open_Season-6] Presentation at the end of the Open Season. (pdf; 1.8 MB) (No longer available online.) eon gastransport, archived from the original ; Retrieved August 17, 2010 .

[7] Megal parallel line officially put into operation. Open Grid Europe press release . (No longer available online.) October 11, 2012, archived from the original ; Retrieved February 11, 2013 .