Norway Posts Record Gas Exports to Europe

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Norway has turned in record summer gas exports to Europe and could be on track to better 2017, a record year for Norwegian gas.

Gassco, which runs the Norwegian gas infrastructure, exported 36.8 billion cubic metres (Bcm) in May-August--a small rise from the same period of 2017, which was a record year for gas exports. Gassco transported 117.4 Bcm through pipeline systems from Norway to continental Europe and the U.K. during 2017--the highest volume sold in 40 years of Norwegian gas exports.

The summer is typically a slow period for gas experts, but this year has matched normal winter levels, which Gassco attributed to European importers refilling depleted gas storages that were heavily depleted by 2017's cold winter.

"The basis for these high deliveries is naturally European and British demand for Norwegian gas as a secure and reliable energy source," said Gassco Chief Executive Officer Frode Leversund. "Not only has Norway's continental shelf delivered larger volumes than before, but the transport system has also handled these increased quantities well. It's too early to say exactly where we'll end up this year, but we expect another good performance which will be roughly on a par with the 2017 record."

Exports to Germany via the Emden terminal, which became operational in 2016, made a strong contribution to this summer's record deliveries, Gassco confirmed. The company said it will soon be opening its new Polarled pipeline to carry more gas from the Norwegian Sea. Running for 482 kilometres, it is the first offshore pipeline to cross the Arctic Circle. The pipeline has a diameter of 36 inches and is designed for a transport capacity for gas of about 70 million cubic metres per day. Polarled has six tie-in points for new discoveries, with Dvalin set to be the second field after Aasta Hansteen to utilise the pipeline. The first gas through the new Polarled pipeline will start later this year, opening a new gas region in the Norwegian Sea. Leversund added: "Polarled gives us a complete gas motorway from the Norwegian Sea to Europe. As operator of both Polarled and Nyhamna, we expect great interest in this region from a number of players. Our strong summer deliveries strengthen that belief."

Gassco is the operator for the Norwegian gas infrastructure, which includes pipelines and processing plants in Norway and terminals in Germany, Belgium, France and the U.K.

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