Germany: SPIE installs a new high-pressure gas pipeline in North Rhine-Westphalia
Published by Alfred Hamer,
Editorial Assistant
World Pipelines,
SPIE, the independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications, has announced it is installing a new high-pressure gas pipeline in Hagen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Westnetz GmbH, the largest distribution network operator for electricity and gas in western Germany, commissioned the project. The 4.5 km pipeline constitutes a critical segment of the regional gas distribution network, ensuring a reliable gas supply for local industry and downstream networks.
The new “Hagen-Hohenlimburg-Ambrock” high-pressure gas pipeline will connect the Volme Valley with the Nimmer Valley in the south-eastern Ruhr region. The steel pipeline is being installed entirely underground, mostly one to two m away from the existing line. The route includes two steep slopes that must be navigated in addition to the A45 federal motorway, which requires an underground crossing.
SPIE is overseeing pipeline installations as part of the implementation of the new high-pressure gas pipeline and, among other tasks, is commissioning and coordinating trades for civil engineering and horizontal drilling. The ground-breaking ceremony took place in August, and work on the twelve installation phases in total is expected to be completed by mid-2026. “We’re installing the 160 m high-pressure gas pipeline, encased in glass fibre-reinforced plastic, through a borehole up to 12 m below the motorway. Traffic will not be affected by the work,” explains Sven Bönig, Project Manager in SPIE’s CityNetworks & Grids operational division.
SPIE is taking various measures to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions during project deployment. For example, the construction site is entirely powered by solar panels mounted on site containers. Excavators and heavy equipment are fuelled with biodiesel and equipped with extra-wide tracks to minimise soil compaction and reduce environmental impact. “For every project, we make sure that we reduce our carbon footprint through appropriate local measures. This is an important part of our sustainability strategy,” says Peter Pfannenstiel, Head of the CityNetworks & Grids operational division at SPIE Germany Switzerland Austria. The team is also placing a strong focus on protecting biodiversity in the border region between the Ruhr area and Sauerland. “From the outset, experts in soil science, ecology and archaeology have been involved in the project to protect local wildlife, such as amphibians in the Nimmer Valley and hazel dormice in Hunsdiek,” emphasises Sven Bönig. All necessary species protection measures are being overseen by a specialised company.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/12122024/germany-spie-installs-a-new-high-pressure-gas-pipeline-in-north-rhine-westphalia/
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