Medgaz is expected to start commissioning the gas pipeline linking Algeria to Spain in March 2010, according to Pedro Miro, president of Medgaz.
The commercial startup of the pipeline will be in June 2010, Algerian daily El-khabar has reported.
The pipeline is expected to transport 8bn cubic metres per year of natural gas initially, and will eventually reach 16bn cubic metres.
The total cost of the project is US$1.34bn. Algerian state controlled Sonatrach owns 36% of the project, Cepsa and Iberdrola from Spain both control 20%, Endesa controls 12% and Gas de France controls 12%.
In 2006, BP and Total withdrew from the project. Spain’s Gas Natural may become a partner of the project, taking part of Sonatrach’s shares.
The length of the onshore section of the pipeline is 547 kilometres, while the offshore section spans 210 kilometres. The Algerian onshore section of the pipeline was constructed by Spie Capag and the offshore section was constructed by Saipem. Steel pipes were delivered by Nippon Steel, and three compressor trains were supplied by Dresser-Rand.
Lloyd’s Register provided pipeline inspection and certification services, including vendor works inspection for the pipeline and equipment, certification for the onshore and offshore pipe lay, and the construction of the compressor station.
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