WAL construction project

WAL pipeline link - for a secure future in Germany

We’ve done it: We completed the WAL pipeline for the new LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven by the end of 2022 as planned. The pipeline is a huge step towards gaining independence from Russian natural gas as quickly as possible.

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Natural gas has been flowing from the LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven into the German gas grid since December 2022. The 26 km Wilhelmshaven Access Pipeline (WAL) was completed in 2022 in just nine months and enables the reliable transport of natural gas into the German gas network. Germany is thus less dependent on Russian energy. And not only that - for the near future, the WAL is H2-ready and a cornerstone for the hydrogen economy in Germany.

The realization of this essential infrastructure project was made possible by the outstanding cooperation of all parties involved. Starting with the approval authorities, the local citizens, the politicians and all the individual employees of the partner companies.

The film about the project

How was it possible to build the gas pipeline within a very short time? Who were the people behind the success? Where were the challenges?

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Only in German

The WAL

Take a look and see for yourself - from the groundbreaking ceremony and the golden weld to the opening of the entire LNG infrastructure in Wilhelmshaven with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, German Economics Minister Robert Habeck and German Finance Minister Christian Lindner.

Key data and course of the WAL

The pipeline is just under 30 km long, has a diameter of about one meter (DN 1000) and an annual capacity of 10 billion cubic meters. The end point is the Norddeutsche Erdgas-Transversale (NETRA) pipeline near the gas storage facility in Etzel. With the connection to the NETRA, gas volumes can be transported from the North Sea coast to the south and east of the country to replace volumes from Russian imports there in the future.

WAL is first step for further capacity expansion in the region

In addition to the new WAL construction, further investments in the region's gas infrastructure are planned. Through further new construction and expansion measures, the newly created capacities for onward transport of gas from Wilhelmshaven can be gradually expanded to up to 26 GWh/hr per year within the next few years.

Press releases

Press releases / pdf / 463.33 KB

First German LNG Terminal to Open in Wilhelmshaven. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Visits the Completed Facilities.

Implementation in record time at ‘Germany's New Fast Pace’. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Niedersachsen's Prime Minister Stephan Weil, German Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck, and the …Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner attend the opening ceremony of the facilities on the North Sea shore. The project was implemented by the three companies Niedersachsen Ports, OGE, and Uniper.

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Press releases / pdf / 219.29 KB

Final weld marks completion of WAL pipeline link: System now ready to take LNG – and in future also hydrogen

WAL link completed reliably and safely in record time. WAL will help feed regasified LNG from Wilhelmshaven into the German gas grid and contribute to Germany's energy supply. H2-ready pipeline is a …crucial cornerstone for Germany’s future hydrogen economy.

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Press releases / pdf / 68.57 KB

Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal: Application documents submitted for planning approval procedure for Wilhelmshaven pipeline link

OGE submitted its application documents for planning approval for the Wilhelmshaven Pipeline Link (WAL).

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Press releases / pdf / 220.17 KB

Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal

OGE plans to build pipeline link by end of 2022

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