GALSI Pipeline
| Part of the Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker, a Global Energy Monitor project. |
| Related categories: |
GALSI Pipeline, also known as the Gasdotto Algeria–Sardegna Italia (GALSI), is a shelved pipeline which would link gas from Algeria to Italy.[1] Sections of the pipeline have also been called the Cagliari-Olbia Pipeline and the Olbia-Pescaia Gas Pipeline.[2]
Location
The pipeline would begin at Koudiet Draouche near the Annaba Gulf in Algeria and connect to the Algeria-Sardinia undersea section. In Sardinia, the pipeline would reach Porto Botte, from where it then stretches south to north to reach Olbia. At Olbia, the pipeline would connect with the Sardinia-Tuscany undersea section. The pipeline would terminate at Piombino in Italy, where the gas would be delivered to the national gas distribution network.[3]
Project Details
- Operator: Sonatrach (41.6%), Edison (20.8%), Enel (15.6%), Hera Group (10.4%), Region of Sardinia (10.4%)[1]
- Current capacity:
- Proposed capacity: 8 bcm per year / 16,000 Gwh/day[2]
- Diameter: 26, 48 inches[4]
- Length: 861 km / 535 miles[5]
- Cost: US$3 billion[7]
- Status: Shelved
- Proposed Start Year: 2022[4]
Ownership
A consortium of energy and gas companies established a new company called GALSI in 2003 to develop the pipeline. Sonatrach owns the largest share of 41.6% interest in GALSI, while Edison has 20.8% interest, Enel has 15.6% interest and Hera has 10.4%. The region of Sardinia owns the remaining 10.4% stake.[1]
Background
In 2003, a consortium of Sonatrach, Edison, Enel and Hera Group launched a joint-venture to develop the GALSI (Gasdotto Algeria–Sardegna Italia) pipeline which would further link Algeria's gas production to Italian markets. As Algeria already supplies Italy with 35% of its gas needs with the Transmed pipeline, the Galsi project would further Italy's dependence upon Algeria's gas production.[1]
The pipeline would measure approximately 837km – 565km of which would be offshore across the Mediterranean Sea, while 272km would be onshore. The pipeline would have a capacity of 8 billion cubic meters per year and it would cost around US$2.5 billion to implement the project.[1]
In 2008, the GALSI consortium and SNAM came to an agreement where GALSI "will develop the engineering and obtain the main permits and authorisations required, and Snam Rete Gas will build the pipeline and subsequently manage the gas transport activities."[8][9]
In 2005, a feasibility study was conducted while the project was geared to be completed by 2012. However, delays have prevented any construction of the pipeline as the project continues to be in limbo.[10][1]
Delays and Possible Cancellation
While construction was originally planned to begin in 2012, the project has been continuously delayed due to a number of technical and economic challenges.[1] The delays have been caused by both sides. First, various concerns from Italian officials delayed the project shortly after feasibility studies, which were subsequently followed by concerns from Algerian state-backed company, Sonatrach. Some of the concerns rested upon pricing, the instability of European gas markets, and alternative pipeline projects which may make the GALSI pipeline non-viable.[11]
In 2014, Enel CEO Francesco Starace stated that progress on the GALSI pipeline's construction did "not looking encouraging."[12]
In 2015, a new partnership was agreed by the Algerian Minister of Foreign affairs Ramatane Lamamra and Italy’s Paolo Gentiloni to continue with the development of the GALSI pipeline.[13]
As of 2018, Edison SPA reported that the GALSI pipeline was expected to go on stream in 2018 even though there has not been any reported construction or further development on the pipeline project.[14][15]
As there have been no construction or other developments, the pipeline was presumed to be cancelled.
In December of 2019, the European Commission "Data on the budgetary and technical implementation of the European Energy Programme for Recovery" stated ", the Commission has decided to terminate the EEPR Financial aid. The termination procedure has been formally adopted by the Commission."[16]
However, in the November 25, 2020 release of its Ten Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP), the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) states construction was expected to begin in 2020 and be completed by 2022 for commissioning by 2022.[5]
Italian transmission operator SNAM explicitly did not include the GALSI project in its 2020-2029 TYNDP, but it did list it as a project from a third party with the status of awaiting final investment decision.[17] There is no mention of the project in the SNAM 2021-2030 TYNDP, nor is it in ENTSOG's 2022 release of their TYNDP.[18]
In response to shareholder question in April 2021, SNAM expressed that it had no intention in participating in GALSI as Italy forbids them from building underwater pipelines.[19]
Due to SNAM's stated lack of interest in the project, and other apparent inaction on the project, as of August 2021, it is considered to be shelved.
Financing
In 2003, Petroleum Economist reported that the Asian Development Bank had opened a US$100,000 line of credit for the project. It also described the project promoters' then hopes of attracting finance from other multi-lateral development banks (MDBs) such as the European Investment Bank. No other MDB finance commitments are known to have been made as of December 2020. At the time, Sonatrach was also reported to be seeking to use export credits and self-financing to raise the funds for the Algerian portion of the project.[20]
In April 2009, IJGlobal reported that U.S. bank Citi had been appointed the project's financial advisor.[21] Although not confirmed, it is assumed that Citi has maintained this advisory role. According to IJGlobal, the project is to be funded through each sponsor contributing funds on a pro-rata basis, either from funding on balance sheets or through corporate borrowing.[22]
ENTSOG's 'Ten Year Network Development Plan 2020' Project Details describes how in 2010 the project received a 120 million euros grant from the European Commission's European Energy Programme for Recovery, though this grant was subsequently cancelled in 2014. It is also stated that "Future availability of new European Commission funds would be a key issue for the success of the project."[6]
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Algeria Sardinia Italy Gas Pipeline (Galsi), Hydrocarbons Technology, accessed April 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Italy, Switzerland and Austria Pipelines map, accessed Jan 30, 2020
- ↑ European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (October 2020). "TYNDP 2020 - MAP – Transmission" (PDF). ENTSOG. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (2020). "TYNDP - Annex A - Projects Tables RPJ007_NS_2020 - entsog". ENTSOG. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (November 25, 2020). "TYNDP 2020 Annex A.2 – Project Tables". ENTSOG. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Ten Year Network Development Plan 2020 – Annex A Project Details", European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas, accessed Dec. 21, 2020
- ↑ GALSI pipeline, IJGlobal, accessed Mar. 22, 2021
- ↑ "Galsi, Snam Rete Gas Shake Hands on Gas Pipeline Commitment for Italy". www.rigzone.com. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
- ↑ Reuters Staff. "Galsi, Snam confirm Algeria-Italy pipeline plans". U.S. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ↑ Christopher E. Smith, Subsea pipeline projects advance in 2018, Oil & Gas Journal, April 02, 2018
- ↑ Christopher Coats, Euro-Bound Algerian Gas Pipeline Faces Unsure Future, Forbes, December 26, 2012
- ↑ Enel CEO says Galsi gas pipeline situation "not encouraging", Reuters, October 30, 2014
- ↑ Italy and Algeria to partner in a GALSI gas pipeline project, Construction Review Online, accessed June 11, 2015
- ↑ Subsea pipeline projects advance in 2018, Oil & Gas Journal, 04/02/2018
- ↑ Galsi Pipeline, Edison, accessed April, 2018
- ↑ European Energy Efficiency Fund (September 2, 2020). "Data on the budgetary and technical implementation of the European Energy Programme for Recovery". Access to European Union law. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ SNAM RETE GAS (January 31, 2020). "Piano decennale di sviluppo della rete di trasporto del gas naturale 2020-2029" (PDF). SNAM. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ SNAM RETE GAS (2021). "Piano decennale di sviluppo della rete di trasporto di gas naturale 2021-2030" (PDF). SNAM. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Snam (April 28, 2021). "Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting of Snam S.p.A" (PDF). snam.it. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Rome bids for European gas role – with Algeria’s help", Petroleum Economist, May 1, 2003
- ↑ "Citi on Galsi pipeline", IJGlobal, Apr. 23, 2009
- ↑ "TRANSACTION DATA: Galsi Pipeline", IJGlobal, accessed Dec. 14, 2020
Related GEM.wiki articles
External resources
Wikipedia also has an article on GALSI Pipeline. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the GFDL.
