Northern Lights is a natural gas pipeline system running from Torzhok, Russia through Belarus to Poland. It is one of the main transport routes for Russian gas to Europe.[1]
Overview edit
The pipeline was built in the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s. It became Belarusian property in after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and is now owned and operated by Beltransgaz. It has a total length of around 7,377 km, of which 2500 km is used to transit Russian gas to Europe. A part of the newer Yamal-Europe pipeline runs in parallel with Northern Lights.[1]
Technical description edit
The Northern Lights system consists of five major trunk pipelines:[1]
| Route | Length | Strings | Capacity | Diameter | Built in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torzhok-Minsk-Ivatsevichy | 454 km | 3 | 45 bcm/year | 1200 mm | 1975-1983 |
| Ivatsevichy-Dolina (to Ukraine) | 146 km | 2 | 1220 mm | 1976/1981 | |
| Kobrin-Brest-Warsaw (to Poland) | 87 km | 1 | 1020 mm | 1985 | |
| Minsk-Vilnius (to Kaliningrad and Lithuania) | 196 km | 1 | 1220 mm | 1988 | |
| Torzhok-Dolina (to Ukraine) | 364 km | 1 | 1420 mm | 1994 | |
| Source:[1] | |||||
The system has 6 compressors stations. It's technical input capacity is 51 bcm/year; however, due the age of the pipeline system, its operational capability is estimated to be 46-48 bcm. In 2007, it transmitted 29.6 bcm of gas; 20.6 bcm for domestic supply and 18.4 bcm for transit to Europe. Total amount of Russian gas transmitted through Belarus to Europe was 70.1 bcm in 2007.[1]