MEGAL pipeline
| Company type | Joint venture (historical) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Natural gas transportation |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Founder | Ruhrgas and Gaz de France |
| Headquarters | Germany |
Area served | Southern Germany, France |
| Products | Natural gas transportation |
| Owner | Open Grid Europe (51%), GRTgaz Deutschland (49%) |
The MEGAL pipeline () serves as a crucial natural gas conduit in southern Germany, channeling gas from the borders shared with the Czech Republic and Austria to the frontier between Germany and France.
History
The pipeline's development commenced in 1975 following the establishment of the joint venture Mittel-Europäische-Gasleitungsgesellschaft by Ruhrgas and Gaz de France, aiming to facilitate the transfer of Russian natural gas into France and southern German regions. The system became operational in 1980, with construction costs totaling €634 million.
In July 2009, the European Commission imposed fines of €553 million each on GDF Suez (now Engie) and E.ON due to anti-competitive practices related to the MEGAL pipeline. Investigations revealed that their predecessors, Gaz de France and Ruhrgas, had maintained agreements since the mid-1970s to restrict gas sales transported via MEGAL from entering each other's domestic markets, thereby breaching competition laws. Although European gas markets underwent liberalization, these arrangements remained effective until their termination in 2005. These penalties rank as the second-largest levied by the European Commission and mark the first within the energy sector. Both companies have challenged the ruling, highlighting changes in regulatory frameworks between 1975 and the present.
Technical description
Extending over , the pipeline complex comprises two linked lines: MEGAL Nord and MEGAL Süd. MEGAL Nord consists of two parallel pipelines stretching from Waidhaus to Medelsheim, each operating under a pressure of 80 bar (1,160 psi) sustained by three compressor stations. This segment can transport up to 22 billion cubic meters (777 billion cubic feet) of natural gas annually, equating to more than 60 million cubic meters (2 billion cubic feet) per day.
The MEGAL Süd line measures and connects Oberkappel with Schwandorf, functioning at a pressure of 67.5 bar (979 psi) supported by two compressor stations. A linking pipeline at Rothenstadt and Schwandorf integrates both MEGAL Nord and Süd.
The MEGAL network intersects major pipelines such as the Trans Europa Naturgas Pipeline and Remich pipeline at Mittelbrunn, the METG pipeline near Gernsheim, as well as the Ruhr Industrial Area pipeline close to Rimpar.
Ownership
Ownership of MEGAL is divided between Open Grid Europe, holding a 51% stake, and GRTgaz Deutschland (a subsidiary of GRTgaz) with 49%. The operation and management responsibilities lie with Open Grid Europe.