New gas pipelines set to lift supplies to Europe

(PARIS) - Planned new gas pipelines to Europe that would bypass Ukraine could resolve some of the supply problems seen this week -- but the giant projects have run into difficulties.

PLANNED GAS PIPELINES

++ Russia

- North Stream: The planned pipeline is scheduled to open in 2011 to bring Russian gas to German via the Baltic Sea. Gazprom is a 51 percent shareholder in the project, which has been delayed by funding problems.

- South Stream: A joint project between Gazprom and Italy's Eni which is expected to open in 2012, but also lacks sufficent funds at present.

The pipeline will run under the Black Sea from Russia through Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, Hungary, Slovenia, Austria and on to Italy.

++ The Caspian Sea

- Nabucco: This EU-backed pipeline will pump gas from Azerbaijan and/or Kazakhstan to Europe through Turkey and the Balkans, avoiding Russia.

Launched in 2002, it is set for completion in 2013. A lack of funding has delayed construction work.

The consortium is made of six countries at the moment: Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria and Germany.

++ Other pipeline projects

- Medgas: From Algeria to Spain. Expected to open summer 2009.

- Galsi: From Algeria to Italy. Scheduled to open 2012-2013.

- Skanlet: This pipeline will supply gas from Norway to Sweden then Poland. Set to open 2012-2013.

EXISTING PIPELINES

++ From Russia

- Yamal: Passing through Belarus, it provides 20 percent of Russia's total gas exports to Europe.

Its capacity is much lower than the Brotherhood pipeline, which runs through Ukraine and provides 80 percent of Russian gas exports to Europe.

- Blue Stream: This smaller pipeline links Russia and Turkey via the Black Sea. It provides gas to a number of European countries.

- A number of smaller pipelines pump Russian gas to the Baltic countries and Finland.

++ Other gas exporters

- Maghreb-Europe: Exports Algerian gas to Europe via Morocco and Spain.

- Transmed: Exports gas from Algeria via Tunisia to Italy.

- Greenstream: A Libyan gas pipeline which supplies Italy and France.

- A network of Norwegian gas pipelines also supplies the European Union.

LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS TERMINALS

- Liquefied natural gas (LNG) offers an alternative method of transporting gas across the continent.

- About 50 billion cubic meteres of gas passes through Europe's LNG terminals, which equates to 10 percent of the EU's gas consumption.

- Spain: six terminals

- France: two terminals, one under construction

- Italy: one terminal under construction

- Greece: one terminal

- Britain: three terminals, two under construction

- Belgium: one terminal

- Portugal: one terminal

Sources: CERA, Petrole and Arab Gas