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Gascade Begins Filling First Section Of Repurposed Hydrogen Pipeline Network In Germany

Pipeline Technology Journal

Gascade Begins Filling First Section Of Repurposed Hydrogen Pipeline Network In GermanyGascade has begun filling the initial segment of its German pipeline network with hydrogen, marking a key step in its project to repurpose approximately 400 kilometers (249 miles) of existing infrastructure by 2025. The Flow project, a 1,630-kilometer (1,013-mile) pipeline slated for inclusion in Germany’s hydrogen core network, involves converting a 1.4-meter (4.6-foot) diameter former natural gas pipeline for hydrogen transport. Upon full operation, the pipeline is expected to have a capacity of up to 20 gigawatts, enabling the transport of hydrogen produced offshore and onshore in northern Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to southern Germany. “With this conversion, Gascade is not only demonstrating its technological expertise and innovative know-how but also sending a strong signal for the hydrogen economy,” said Christoph von dem Bussche, managing director of Gascade. He added that the company was proud of “to be starting the commissioning of the first large-scale hydrogen pipelines in Germany,” emphasizing it would provide “planning certainty for the market ramp-up of the value chain worldwide.” Last month, Germany’s SEFE secured a 200,000-metric-ton annual green hydrogen offtake agreement with Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power. Gascade, a wholly owned subsidiary of SEFE, is expected to feed this hydrogen into its pipeline network.

Gasoline Marketers Oppose Colonial Pipeline Shipping Changes

Pipeline Technology Journal

Gasoline Marketers Oppose Colonial Pipeline Shipping ChangesAt least four U.S. gasoline marketers are preparing legal and regulatory challenges to Colonial Pipeline over proposed changes in fuel shipping terms, which the companies say will hurt their margins and drive up fuel prices at the pump, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The Colonial Pipeline is a critical artery for shipping fuel from the U.S. Gulf Coast to the East Coast, where refining capacity has shrunk and pipeline shipments are the most cost-effective way to meet regional demand. As such, changes to the pipeline's operations can have major impacts on markets in the world's largest motor fuel consuming nation. Colonial last week sought approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to stop shipping different gasoline grades at the same time and to eliminate shipments of so-called Grade 5 gasoline. However, a Colonial spokesperson said the changes would streamline operations and minimise slowdowns. Two U.S. gasoline traders said their firms were exploring options for court challenges if Colonial implements the changes, with two others saying they planned to file protest notices asking FERC to block Colonial's proposed changes due to potential harm to shippers and consumers. Colonial said the changes proposed last month should add 15,000 to 20,000 barrels per day of capacity to Colonial's main gasoline line. Colonial believes this will help shippers and consumers by moving more fuel on a pipeline that ran at full capacity throughout last year, a spokesperson said. However, Colonial shippers who spoke with Reuters said the changes will hurt their margins and restrict the overall U.S. gasoline supply pool. They said Gulf Coast refiners would have to reduce blending of additives during times when regulators allow sale of gasoline with a higher Reid Vapor Pressure, or RVP.

Totalenergies & Rwe Strike 15-Year Deal For Green Hydrogen Supply

Pipeline Technology Journal

Totalenergies & Rwe Strike 15-Year Deal For Green Hydrogen SupplyTotalEnergies and RWE have reached a 15-year agreement for the purchase of green hydrogen, marking the largest deal of its kind in Germany, the companies announced Tuesday. Under the agreement, TotalEnergies will purchase approximately 30,000 metric tons of green hydrogen annually from RWE, starting in 2030, for its refinery in Leuna, Saxony-Anhalt. The hydrogen will be produced at RWE’s 300-megawatt electrolysis plant in Lingen, Lower Saxony, which is expected to be operational by 2027. RWE will power the electrolyzers with renewable energy sources. The deal is seen as a significant step in Germany's efforts to decarbonize its industrial sector, particularly refineries, which are required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. TotalEnergies estimates that using 30,000 metric tons of green hydrogen will reduce CO2 emissions at its Leuna refinery by 300,000 metric tons annually, equivalent to the emissions of 140,000 cars. “We are proud to have secured the first long-term offtake agreement for green hydrogen of this size with TotalEnergies in Germany,” said Markus Krebber, CEO of RWE AG, in a statement. Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, said the agreement “marks an important milestone to reducing our CO2 emissions at our Leuna refinery.” The supply relationship will be facilitated by Germany’s hydrogen core network, a 9,000-kilometer pipeline network connecting hydrogen production sites with industrial consumers. Stephan Weil, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, and Dr. Reiner Haseloff, Minister President of Saxony-Anhalt, both praised the agreement, highlighting its significance for the development of a hydrogen economy in Germany. TotalEnergies, which has issued tenders for 500,000 metric tons of green hydrogen annually across Europe, aims to decarbonize its refineries. To ensure a reliable hydrogen supply, RWE Generation will use booked capacities of the hydrogen storage facility in Gronau-Epe, operated by its subsidiary, RWE Gas Storage West, which plans to put the facility into operation in 2027. Refineries traditionally use hydrogen derived from fossil natural gas, contributing to high CO2 emissions. The use of green hydrogen will help refineries meet Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.

Panama Canal Exploring The Feasibility Of Building A Pipeline To Ship U.S Gas To Asia

Pipeline Technology Journal

Panama Canal Exploring The Feasibility Of Building A Pipeline To Ship U.S Gas To AsiaThe Panama Canal Authority is exploring the feasibility of constructing a pipeline to transport liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) across the waterway, potentially facilitating shipments from the U.S. to Japan, Administrator Ricaurte Vasquez told Reuters on Tuesday. "We're exploring the possibility of rolling out infrastructure with the capacity to move up to a million barrels per day (bpd), but the market is much larger," Vasquez said. The canal administration considers gas transport a high priority, though Vasquez acknowledged the project's complexity. Initial studies suggest potential LPG traffic through the canal could reach 2 million bpd within a decade. A decision on whether to proceed with the pipeline is expected within the next year, Vasquez said. The pipeline proposal comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Panama. Earlier this month, a consortium led by BlackRock acquired the ports of Balboa and Cristobal, located at either end of the canal, for $22.8 billion. The deal, which also included stakes in 43 other ports globally, followed President Donald Trump's statements suggesting the U.S. should reclaim control of the canal. BlackRock paid $19 billion to CK Hutchinson, owned by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing, for the Panama ports and the other port holdings. Last week, President Trump addressed the port deal in a speech to Congress, stating, "My administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we've already started doing it." The canal authority's pipeline consideration and the recent port acquisition occur as the U.S. and Panama navigate a period of strained relations.

Eu Proposes Extending Gas Storage Rules To 2027 Amid Geopolitical Shift & Market Volatility

Pipeline Technology Journal

Eu Proposes Extending Gas Storage Rules To 2027 Amid Geopolitical Shift & Market VolatilityThe European Commission proposed Thursday to prolong its Gas Storage Regulation until the end of 2027, citing ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and volatile global gas markets. The two-year extension aims to ensure continued energy security and market stability across the European Union. EU’s current regulation, adopted in June 2022 during the energy crisis, mandates that EU member states fill gas storage facilities to at least 90% capacity before each winter. Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said the extension would provide necessary flexibility for member states to refill storage throughout the summer under optimal conditions, preventing market distortions and reducing market stress. “Gas storage has shielded EU citizens from the risk of supply disruptions, and this is why it is crucial that we continue with this tool,” Jørgensen said in a statement. A separate report released Thursday highlighted the regulation's success in ensuring security of supply and reducing the EU’s dependence on Russian energy. The EU has consistently exceeded its 90% filling target before each heating season. The commission also issued a recommendation urging member states to consider current market conditions and allow flexibility in refilling storage facilities this summer, preventing negative impacts on the internal energy market or other EU countries. In addition to the proposal, which will now be debated by the European Parliament and the Council, the commission also announced plans to review the EU’s energy security framework, potentially leading to more permanent storage-related measures. Meanwhile, the commission continues to monitor gas supply security with member states through the Gas Coordination Group, coordinating potential measures for optimal storage refilling.

Enbridge To Invest $2.5 Billion In Pipelines, Including Mainline Expansion

Pipeline Technology Journal

Enbridge To Invest $2.5 Billion In Pipelines, Including Mainline ExpansionEnbridge Inc. plans to invest $2.5 billion in its liquids and natural gas systems, with $2 billion allocated to its Mainline crude oil network through 2028, the company announced Tuesday. The Mainline, North America's largest crude oil pipeline network, transports light and heavy crude oil, natural gas liquids and refined products from Edmonton, Alberta, to markets in Canada and the U.S. Midwest. Enbridge moves approximately 40% of North American crude oil production. The announcement comes as U.S. tariffs on Canadian energy imports take effect. Enbridge previously stated in its fourth-quarter earnings that it did not anticipate the tariffs to materially impact its financial guidance. "All four of our growing franchises are opportunity-rich, and we're seeing approximately $50 billion of combined new growth opportunities through 2030," CEO Gregory Ebel said during an investor day presentation. The company also plans to invest $400 million in the Birch Grove expansion, a 179 million-cubic-feet-per-day increase to the T-North section of its Westcoast Pipeline. The expansion is expected to be operational in 2028, raising T-North's total capacity to 3.7 billion cubic feet per day. The 2,953-kilometer (1,834-mile) Westcoast Pipeline runs from Fort Nelson in northeast British Columbia to Gordondale near the British Columbia-Alberta border, south of the Canada-United States border, and currently has a capacity of 3.6 billion cubic feet per day. In February, Enbridge sanctioned $100 million for the expansion of the T15 project in North Carolina, a 45-mile natural gas pipeline supplying Duke Energy's (DUK.N) Roxboro plant. The company aims to double the pipeline's natural gas delivery capacity. The total cost of both phases of the T15 project is expected to be $700 million, with operations commencing in 2027 or 2028, according to Enbridge.

Turkey & Azerbaijan To Inaugurate New Cross-Border Gas Pipeline

Pipeline Technology Journal

Turkey & Azerbaijan To Inaugurate New Cross-Border Gas PipelineA new natural gas pipeline connecting Turkey to Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave is set to become operational this week, bolstering the region's energy security, officials announced. Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the Ighdir-Nakhchivan pipeline's completion will allow for the export of natural gas to Nakhchivan. "We are set to begin natural gas exports to Nakhchivan, following the completion of the Ighdir-Nakhchivan pipeline," Bayraktar said. "A ceremony is planned for this week, with the anticipated participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev." The 97.5-kilometer pipeline, stretching from Turkey's eastern Ighdir province to Nakhchivan's Sadarak district, will have an initial capacity of 2 million cubic meters of gas per day, or 730 million cubic meters per year, with potential for expansion. The pipeline includes 80 kilometers in Turkey and 17.5 kilometers in Azerbaijan. The project, operated by Azerbaijan's SOCAR and Turkey's BOTAŞ, aims to meet Nakhchivan's gas needs, which currently stand at nearly half a billion cubic meters annually. Nakhchivan, an exclave of Azerbaijan bordered by Armenia, Iran and Turkey, has faced energy isolation due to historical conflicts and territorial disputes. The region lacks a direct land connection to mainland Azerbaijan following Soviet-era territorial changes and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Previously, Nakhchivan relied on a gas swap arrangement with Iran for its supply. The new pipeline will provide a direct and uninterrupted supply from Turkey. The pipeline is the fourth energy link between Turkey and Azerbaijan, following the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, and the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP). The project comes amid ongoing efforts to restore regional transport links following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. A planned Zangezur multimodal transport corridor, intended to connect Nakhchivan with western Azerbaijan, has faced delays due to Armenia's unfulfilled obligations, though construction continues on the Azerbaijani side. The memorandum of understanding to build the Ighdir-Nakhchivan pipeline was signed in December 2020, and ground was broken in September 2023.

Russian Oil Flow To Czechia Via Druzhba Pipeline Halted Again, No Shortage Reported

Pipeline Technology Journal

Russian Oil Flow To Czechia Via Druzhba Pipeline Halted Again, No Shortage ReportedOil deliveries to the Czech Republic via Russia's Druzhba pipeline have stopped for the second time in recent months, but officials said there is no immediate threat of fuel shortages. According to a news report published by EURACTIV on Wednesday morning, Czech Industry and Trade Minister Lukáš Vlček confirmed the disruption and assured that domestic oil supplies remain secure. "We are aware of the situation and are addressing it. Refineries in the Czech Republic are well prepared for this scenario, and we have a robust system of state material reserves in place," Vlček told the Czech News Agency. He said the outage would not affect gasoline and diesel production, a claim echoed by Orlen Unipetrol, a major Czech oil processor and distributor. "Currently, fuel production at both our refineries, in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, remains unrestricted and at full capacity," Orlen Unipetrol said on X, formerly Twitter. However, the company requested an emergency oil loan from the State Material Reserves Administration to maintain full production at the Litvínov refinery. Vlček and Orlen Unipetrol emphasised the Czech Republic's plan to end reliance on Russian oil, with the expanded Transalpine Oil Pipeline (TAL) expected to provide sufficient supplies from alternative sources as the country aims to fully transition to Western oil supplies by mid-2025. A similar supply halt occurred in December, with Czech authorities attributing it to Russian pressure on local energy reserves.

South Korea Eyes Alaska Gas Pipeline & Seeks Trilateral Partnership

Pipeline Technology Journal

South Korea Eyes Alaska Gas Pipeline & Seeks Trilateral PartnershipSouth Korea has expressed interest in joining a $44 billion gas pipeline project in Alaska through a trilateral partnership with the United States and Japan. Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun signaled South Korea's interest in participating in the Alaska gas project via trilateral cooperation during a visit to Washington, D.C., last month, Yonhap reported, citing unnamed government sources. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, during the trip, Ahn met with senior U.S. officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Interior Secretary, and Doug Burgum, co-chair of the White House National Energy Dominance Council. The visit was part of Seoul’s efforts to secure tariff exemptions from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and to enhance bilateral cooperation with Washington. The industry ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the pipeline report. South Korea is the world’s third-largest importer of liquefied natural gas, trailing only China and Japan. Last month, Japan also expressed willingness to support the Alaska pipeline to foster ties with Trump and mitigate potential trade tensions.

Trump Allies & Putin Associate Reportedly Held Secret Talks To Revive Nord Stream 2 Pipeline

Pipeline Technology Journal

Trump Allies & Putin Associate Reportedly Held Secret Talks To Revive Nord Stream 2 PipelineClose associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin and figures linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump have reportedly engaged in secret talks to restart the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The undersea pipeline, built to transport Russian gas to Western Europe, was severely damaged by explosions in September 2022 and has remained non-operational. According to a Daily Mail report, if negotiations succeed, U.S. investors could acquire a stake in the pipeline’s operating company, profiting if Russian gas shipments resume, pending sanctions relief after a Ukraine ceasefire. Matthias Warnig, a former East German intelligence officer and Putin confidant, is reportedly brokering the talks. Richard Grenell, Trump’s former ambassador to Germany, and businessman Stephen Lynch have been named as U.S. participants. Both Grenell and Warnig deny involvement, while Lynch has not commented. Reviving Nord Stream 2 faces major hurdles. Only one of its two strands remains intact, and repairs could exceed $100 million. The operating company is under financial strain, with just two months to present a debt repayment plan. Meanwhile, political resistance remains strong. Germany suspended Nord Stream 2’s certification before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and shows no interest in its revival. Any attempt to restart the project would likely face opposition from Berlin, Ukraine, and European allies. Trump’s reported willingness to reconsider Nord Stream 2 marks a shift from his first term, when he opposed the pipeline. With a potential return to the White House, the discussions hint at possible changes in U.S. policy toward Russia and energy relations. However, any deal is expected to face intense scrutiny.