GALSI
Encyclopedia
GALSI is a planned natural gas pipeline from Algeria
to Sardinia
and further northern Italy
.
and Algeria
on 14 November 2007.
Early in 2008 one of the project founders, Wintershall
, sold its share to other shareholders and left the project.
In 2007, while surveying the proposed route between Sardinia and Algeria, sonar data from an Underwater Autonomous Vehicle revealed a large wreck, later determined to be the French battleship Danton
, sunk in 1917.
field in Algeria and the 640 kilometres (397.7 mi) section will run to Koudiet Draouche at the coast of Mediterranean Sea
. The 285 kilometres (177.1 mi) offshore section with two legs will be laid between Koudiet Draouche and Porto Botte (CI
), Sardinia. The Sardinian section is planned approximately 300 kilometres (186.4 mi) from the south to Olbia
. The offshore section between Sardinia and Italian mainland is 280 kilometres (174 mi) and the landfall will be Piombino
(LI
). It will be connected to the existing Italian gas grid in Tuscany
.
The exact offshore route will be selected by Dutch engineering contractor Fugro
by July 2008.
. The current shareholders of Galsi are:
According to the agreement between Sonatrach and Russia
n Gazprom
, it's possible that Gazprom will have a stake in the Galsi pipeline.
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
to Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
and further northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
History
The feasibility study was completed in 2005. The intergovernmental agreement on the GALSI pipeline was signed between ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
on 14 November 2007.
Early in 2008 one of the project founders, Wintershall
Wintershall
Wintershall AG is the largest crude oil and natural gas producer in Germany. The company is based in Kassel, Germany. Wintershall is a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF, based in Ludwigshafen. The name Wintershall is derived from the surname of the enterprise co-founder Carl Julius Winter and the...
, sold its share to other shareholders and left the project.
In 2007, while surveying the proposed route between Sardinia and Algeria, sonar data from an Underwater Autonomous Vehicle revealed a large wreck, later determined to be the French battleship Danton
French battleship Danton (1909)
Danton was a pre-dreadnought battleship of the French Navy and the lead ship of her class. She was a technological leap in battleship development for the French Navy, as she was the first ship in the fleet with turbine engines...
, sunk in 1917.
Route
The pipeline will start from the Hassi R'melHassi R'mel
Hassi R'Mel is a town in Algeria located near the 18th largest gas field worldwide. Hassi R'Mel is located in Laghouat Province northwest of Ghardaïa. It is the capital of Hassi R'Mel District. Hass R'Mel has an airport....
field in Algeria and the 640 kilometres (397.7 mi) section will run to Koudiet Draouche at the coast of Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. The 285 kilometres (177.1 mi) offshore section with two legs will be laid between Koudiet Draouche and Porto Botte (CI
Province of Carbonia-Iglesias
Carbonia-Iglesias is a province in the autonomous region of Sardinia, Italy which includes the historical region of Sulcis-Iglesiente, the southwestern part of Sardinia.-Overview:...
), Sardinia. The Sardinian section is planned approximately 300 kilometres (186.4 mi) from the south to Olbia
Olbia
Olbia is a town and comune of 56,231 inhabitants in northeastern Sardinia , in the Gallura sub-region. Called Olbia in the Roman age, Civita in the Middle Ages and Terranova Pausania before the 1940s, Olbia was again the official name of the town after the period of Fascism.-Geography:It is the...
. The offshore section between Sardinia and Italian mainland is 280 kilometres (174 mi) and the landfall will be Piombino
Piombino
Piombino is an Italian town and comune of circa 35,000 inhabitants in the province of Livorno . It lies on the border between the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea, in front of Elba Island and at the northern side of Maremma.-Overview:...
(LI
Province of Livorno
The Province of Livorno or Leghorn is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. It includes several islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, including Elba and Capraia. Its capital is the city of Livorno....
). It will be connected to the existing Italian gas grid in Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
.
The exact offshore route will be selected by Dutch engineering contractor Fugro
Fugro
Fugro N.V. is a Dutch multinational company headquartered in Leidschendam. The current president is K.S. Wester.Fugro provides geotechnical, survey and geoscience services to oil, gas, mining and construction industries...
by July 2008.
Technical features
The pipeline diameter will vary between 22 inches (558.8 mm) and 48 inches (1,219.2 mm). The initial capacity will be 8 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas per annum. Total estimated costs of project are €2 billion. The pipeline is expected to become operational in 2014. The Italian section will be built by Snam Rete Gas.Project company
The project company Galsi S.p.A. was incorporated on 29 January 2003 in MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. The current shareholders of Galsi are:
- SonatrachSonatrachSonatrach is an Algerian government-owned company formed to exploit the hydrocarbon resources of the country. Its diversified activities cover all aspects of production: exploration, extraction, transport, and refining...
(Algeria) - 41.6% - Edison S.p.A.Edison S.p.A.Edison S.p.A is the fifth largest energy company in Italy in the field of electricity and natural gas. It produces, imports and sells electric power and hydrocarbons.-History:...
(Italy) - 20.8% - EnelEnel (energy)Enel S.p.A. is an Italian energy provider, the third-largest in Europe by market capitalization...
(ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
) - 15.6% - Sfirs (SardiniaSardiniaSardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
Autonomous Region) - 11.6% - Hera Trading (ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
) - 10.4%
According to the agreement between Sonatrach and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Gazprom
Gazprom
Open Joint Stock Company Gazprom is the largest extractor of natural gas in the world and the largest Russian company. Its headquarters are in Cheryomushki District, South-Western Administrative Okrug, Moscow...
, it's possible that Gazprom will have a stake in the Galsi pipeline.
See also
- Trans-Mediterranean PipelineTrans-Mediterranean PipelineThe Trans-Mediterranean Pipeline is a natural gas pipeline from Algeria via Tunisia to Sicily and thence to mainland Italy. An extension of the TransMed pipeline delivers Algerian gas to Slovenia.-History:...
- Greenstream pipelineGreenstream pipelineThe Greenstream pipeline, part of the Western Libyan Gas Project, is a natural gas submarine pipeline from Libya to Italy.-History:The idea of natural gas from Libya to Italy originating from the 1970s. Feasibility studies were carried out in the 1980s and 1990s. Construction of the pipeline...
- MedgazMedgazMedgaz is a submarine natural gas pipeline between Algeria and Spain.-History:The idea of building a direct gas pipeline between Algeria and Europe arose in the 1970s. However, the technical limitations at that time prevented the construction and operation of an ultra deepwater gas pipeline...
- Maghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline
- Trans-Saharan gas pipeline
External links
- Project GALSI (in French)