ENI, Sonatrach Pipeline Expansion Agreement Takes Effect

ENI

Eni and the Algerian company Sonatrach have reached the agreement for the expansion of the Trans Tunisian Pipeline Company (TTPC) pipeline carrying natural gas from Algeria to Sicily through Tunisia.

The agreement sets the increase up to 3.2 billion cubic meters of annual transport capacity starting from 2008 and up to further 3.3 annual billion cubic meters starting from 2012.

The transport capacity of the import line from Algeria today is around 27 billion of annual cubic meters and will reach 33.5 billion of annual cubic meters in 2012.

The investment for the expansion of the TTPC pipeline amounts to 330 million euro and will be entirely financed by Eni. The additional transport capacity will be completely put at the disposal of third importers in Italy.

Sonatrach will carry out investments aimed at reinforc

ing with an equivalent capacity the pipelines extending from Algeria to the boarder with Tunisia. The agreement also sets the corporate and contractual re-organization of the Transmediterranean Pipeline Company Limited (TMPC), the company equally owned by Eni and Sonatrach owning the TMPC subsea pipeline linking the Tunisian coast to the Italian grid.

The TTPC and TMPC pipelines were built in late '70s for the transport to Italy of the natural gas following the first agreement signed between the two companies and were expanded in early '90s. The TTPC pipeline crosses the Tunisian territory from Oued Saf Saf, point of delivery of gas to the Algerian border, to Cap Bon, on the Sicilian Channel, where it connects with the TMPC pipeline. It extends for 742 km (with two pipes of 48"-diameter, 371 km length each) and it is equipped with three compression stations.

The TMPC pipeline crosses the Sicilian Channel from Cap Bon to Mazara del Vallo, point of entrance in Italy. It extends for 775 km (with five pipes of 20"/26"-diameter, 155 km length each).


Most Popular Articles