158
H.Grann
reduction and stabilization of CO 2 emissions, which are viewed as a significant contribution to the greenhouse effect and the resulting global warming.
Already in the mid 1980s it became apparent that there would be a lack of gas transportation capacity from Norway to the European continent in the foreseeable future due to higher sales volumes under existing agreements and due to new additional
gas sales agreements signed with German and Dutch buyers. In order to meet the
increased gas supply obligations a number of supply alternatives were examined including:
• Upgrading of existing pipeline systems to higher operating pressures
• Change of gas delivery point for certain requirements
• New offshore pipeline to Denmark with an onshore pipeline through Denmark and
Germany to Emden
• New offshore pipeline to The Netherlands or to Germany with onshore pipeline to
Emden
In the autumn of 1991 it was decided to develop the documentation required for
permission to land Europipe, a new offshore pipeline, in Germany with an onshore
connection to Emden. Presently two more pipelines are under planning and development, namely Europipe II (parallel to Europipe I) and NORFRA to be landed on the
northern coast of France near Dunkirk, bringing the total number of gas pipelines
from Norway to the European continent to five.
15.3
Project Planning and Approval
Initial contacts between Statoil and the German authorities were made in 1985 based
on the first feasibility study of a pipeline landfall in Germany. This was followed by a
preliminary evaluation of some ten alternative routes along the German coast in early
1990. In 1986 the Wadden Sea National Park of Lower Saxony was formally established
covering a major part of the North Sea coastline of Lower Saxony.
In accordance with the Regional Planning Procedure, Statoil submitted its first formal request for planning permission early in 1991 with pipeline landfall via the island
of Norderney, which was the alternative originally favored by the German authorities.
By this time the political situation in Lower Saxony had changed and led to the formation of a coalition government between the Social Democrats and the Green Party. As a
result, environmental issues were given considerable attention on the political agenda
and the environmental organizations were gaining an increasing influence in the decision process. This made it increasingly difficult to develop a pipeline project which
would satisfy the interests of the non-governmental environmental organizations, the
authorities and the public in general. Consequently, numerous alternative pipeline routes,
technical solutions and associated environmental impact assessments were developed
for review by the authorities.
After long, complicated and at times quite frustrating discussions, hearings and negotiations, Statoil was finally in November of 1992 granted planning permission to land
Europipe through the Accumer Ee tidal inlet and a subsurface tunnel under the tidal
flats as the most costly but environmentally most favorable project alternative. After
H.Grann
reduction and stabilization of CO 2 emissions, which are viewed as a significant contribution to the greenhouse effect and the resulting global warming.
Already in the mid 1980s it became apparent that there would be a lack of gas transportation capacity from Norway to the European continent in the foreseeable future due to higher sales volumes under existing agreements and due to new additional
gas sales agreements signed with German and Dutch buyers. In order to meet the
increased gas supply obligations a number of supply alternatives were examined including:
• Upgrading of existing pipeline systems to higher operating pressures
• Change of gas delivery point for certain requirements
• New offshore pipeline to Denmark with an onshore pipeline through Denmark and
Germany to Emden
• New offshore pipeline to The Netherlands or to Germany with onshore pipeline to
Emden
In the autumn of 1991 it was decided to develop the documentation required for
permission to land Europipe, a new offshore pipeline, in Germany with an onshore
connection to Emden. Presently two more pipelines are under planning and development, namely Europipe II (parallel to Europipe I) and NORFRA to be landed on the
northern coast of France near Dunkirk, bringing the total number of gas pipelines
from Norway to the European continent to five.
15.3
Project Planning and Approval
Initial contacts between Statoil and the German authorities were made in 1985 based
on the first feasibility study of a pipeline landfall in Germany. This was followed by a
preliminary evaluation of some ten alternative routes along the German coast in early
1990. In 1986 the Wadden Sea National Park of Lower Saxony was formally established
covering a major part of the North Sea coastline of Lower Saxony.
In accordance with the Regional Planning Procedure, Statoil submitted its first formal request for planning permission early in 1991 with pipeline landfall via the island
of Norderney, which was the alternative originally favored by the German authorities.
By this time the political situation in Lower Saxony had changed and led to the formation of a coalition government between the Social Democrats and the Green Party. As a
result, environmental issues were given considerable attention on the political agenda
and the environmental organizations were gaining an increasing influence in the decision process. This made it increasingly difficult to develop a pipeline project which
would satisfy the interests of the non-governmental environmental organizations, the
authorities and the public in general. Consequently, numerous alternative pipeline routes,
technical solutions and associated environmental impact assessments were developed
for review by the authorities.
After long, complicated and at times quite frustrating discussions, hearings and negotiations, Statoil was finally in November of 1992 granted planning permission to land
Europipe through the Accumer Ee tidal inlet and a subsurface tunnel under the tidal
flats as the most costly but environmentally most favorable project alternative. After