{{Infobox pipeline | name = NEL pipeline | type = Natural gas | photo = Hasenhäge NEL-Erdgas-Pipeline Bau 2011-05-15 009.JPG | caption = Constructions south of Schwerin | map = {{maplink |type=line |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-align=center |zoom=5}} | country = Germany | state = | province = | coordinates = | lat = | long = | direction = east-west | start = Lubmin | through = Sülstorf<br/>Achim | finish = Rehden | par = | owner = NEL Gastransport GmbH | partners = Wintershall Dea<br/>Gazprom | operator = | technical_service_provider = | contractors = | construction = 2011 | est = 2012 (first stage)<br/>2013 (second stage) | decom = | length = 440 | discharge = {{convert|20|e9m3/a}} | diameter_in = 56 | compressor_stations_no = | compressor_stations = }} The '''NEL''' ('''N'''ordeuropäische '''E'''rdgas'''l'''eitung (English: '''N'''orthern '''E'''uropean natural gas pipe'''l'''ine), formerly known as '''Norddeutsche Erdgasleitung''', is a {{convert|440|km|mi}} long natural gas pipeline in Germany.
==Route== The pipeline runs from Lubmin near Greifswald through Sülstorf and Achim to Rehden. It connects the Nord Stream 1 pipeline with the Rehden-Hamburg and MIDAL pipelines. The pipeline started operations on 5 November 2012.<ref name=kyiv061112> {{cite news |url= http://www.kyivpost.com/content/russia-and-former-soviet-union/gas-supply-starts-through-nord-streams-nel-stretch-under-new-contracts-315660.html |title= Gas supply starts through Nord Stream's NEL stretch under new contracts |newspaper = Kyiv Post |date= 2012-11-06 |accessdate=2012-11-08}} </ref> Between Sülstorf and Achim, it uses a pre-existing installation.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.nel-gastransport.de/en/our-network/the-north-european-natural-gas-pipeline/ |title = The North European Natural Gas Pipeline}}</ref>
==Technical features== The diameter of the pipeline is {{convert|56|in}} and it uses {{convert|100|bar}} operating pressure.<ref name=pipelines111012> {{cite news |url= http://pipelinesinternational.com/news/nel_online_and_on_time/078202/ |title= NEL: online and on time |newspaper = Pipeline International |date= 2012-10-11 |accessdate=2012-11-08}} </ref> Its capacity is {{convert|20|e9m3|abbr=off}} of natural gas per year.<ref name=pipelines111012/><ref name=osw> {{cite journal | publisher= The Centre for Eastern Studies | url= http://osw.waw.pl/en/epub/EW/2007/071114/01.htm | author = Łukasz Antas | title = Nord Stream: the current status and possible consequences of the project's implementation | journal = East Week | issue = 104 | date=2007-11-14 | accessdate=2008-08-09 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080309183438/http://www.osw.waw.pl/en/epub/EW/2007/071114/01.htm | archivedate = 2008-03-09}} </ref> The pipeline is expected to cost around €1 billion.<ref name=upstream110610> {{cite news | url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article217635.ece | title = Gasunie takes NEL berth | newspaper = Upstream Online | publisher = NHST Media Group | date = 2010-06-11 | accessdate = 2010-06-12}} </ref>
The developer of the pipeline asked exemption from the network access and transit fees regulation; however, this request was denied.<ref name=reuters250209> {{cite news | agency= Reuters | author= Vera Eckert | url= http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKLP84033820090225?sp=true | archive-url= https://archive.today/20130201042401/http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKLP84033820090225?sp=true | url-status= dead | archive-date= February 1, 2013 | title = Germany rules favourably on OPAL gas pipeline | date=2009-02-25 | accessdate=2009-03-15}} </ref>
==Project company== The pipeline was built by OPAL NEL TRANSPORT GmbH.<ref name="W & G Beteiligungs-GmbH & Co. KG (W & G)">{{cite press release | publisher= Wingas | url= http://www.wingas.de/pi-ont-08-01.html?&L=1 | title= OPAL NEL TRANSPORT GmbH applies for exemption from regulation. Project company plans Nord Stream pipeline links | date= 2008-07-25 | accessdate= 2008-08-09 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110719114410/http://www.wingas.de/pi-ont-08-01.html?&L=1 | archive-date= 2011-07-19 | url-status= dead }}</ref> It is operated by NEL Gastransport GmbH,<ref name=pipelines111012/> owned by WIGA Transport Beteiligungs-GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture of Wintershall Dea and Gazprom.
==See also== {{Portal|Germany|Energy}} *Nord Stream 1 *Rehden-Hamburg gas pipeline *MIDAL *OPAL pipeline *Gazela Pipeline
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== {{Commons category|NEL Pipeline}} * {{Official website|https://www.nel-gastransport.de/en/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|52.6188|N|8.4963|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}
Category:Natural gas pipelines in Germany Category:Gazprom pipelines