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PosterousNabucco international gas pipeline project: TÜV Rheinland awarded contract for further project stages
01-31-12Cologne
TÜV Rheinland, the international testing service provider, has secured the contract to audit EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contractors wishing to pre-qualify for the construction of the approximately 3,900-kilometre Nabucco pipeline. The new pipeline belonging to Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH connects Central Europe to the world’s largest gas reserves in the Caspian Sea region and to the Middle East. The new contract awarded to the experts at TÜV Rheinland covers the pre-qualification of EPC contractors. TÜV Rheinland will also assist in the preparation of the pre-qualification process in an advisory capacity.
TÜV Rheinland had already pipped other international competitors at the post back in 2010, auditing global suppliers of long lead items (linepipes, bends and valves) on behalf of Nabucco Gas Pipeline International. The pre-qualificaiton of the EPC contractors is another important step towards realising the Nabucco project. The 3,900-kilometre, 56-inch pipeline, which boasts a diameter of 1,420 millimetres, will run from the eastern border of Turkey to Austria through Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. Customers in Germany and Western Europe will also be supplied with Nabucco gas via the international gas turntable in Baumgarten near Vienna. The pipeline has a maximum annual capacity of 31 billion cubic metres of gas and 2 million tons of steel are needed to construct it. The first lot of natural gas is expected to flow through the pipeline in the end of 2017. In establishing a new gas corridor via Turkey to feed South-East Europe and exploiting new gas reserves, Nabucco will make a key contribution to achieving security of supply in Europe.
The operating company involved in the international project comprises RWE, OMV Gas & Power GmbH, Botas AS, FGSZ (100% subsidiary of MOL) , Transgaz S.A. and Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD. It was TÜV Rheinland who came out on top when vying for the contract alongside other international competitors. The quality management requirements of the project are particularly high on account of the complex technology and environmental protection issues involved and TÜV Rheinland remains responsible for these elements.