Officials remain optimistic
- Decision now due to be made on 31 May 2016
- Shareholder meeting was made on 28 May 2015
- The project has already seen significant delays
The final investment decision on the $3bn Galsi pipeline has been postponed until 31 May 2016 as the project waits for final approvals from authorities in Tuscany and Italys Ministry of Economic Development.
Speaking to MEED, Stefano Bosco, Galsis chief financial officer, says the decision to postpone was made at a shareholder meeting on 28 May.
The pipepline is planned to link the Algerian gas network to Italy through a subsea pipline, allowing for increased imports from Africa to Europe.
The delay came in the wake of a statement from Algerias Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, who said the country was ready to relaunch the Galsi project on 27 May.
Sellal said the pipeline relaunch would form part of a new vision of energy security for both Italy and Europe.
Reacting to the prime ministers comments, Bosco says optimism about the project among senior Algerian officials should have a positive impact on the schemes development.
What Sellal said is good news for the project, but Galsi has to wait for the practical consequences of the statements, he says.
The Galsi pipeline has already seen significant delays. It was originally due for completion in 2009, but there were difficulties in obtaining authorisation for the route and landing points, as well as protracted intergovernmental negotiations.
Galsi was created in 2003 and is owned by several stakeholders:
- Sonatrach (Algeria) 41.6 per cent
- Edison (Italy) 20.8 per cent
- Enel (Italy) 15.6 per cent
- Hera (Italy) 10.4 per cent
- The region of Sardinia 11.6 per cent
The pipeline will have a capacity of 8 billion cubic metres a year and sections will be laid at a depth of 2,885 metres.
The 520-kilometre-long Italian section of the pipeline will account for about two-thirds of the cost, with the 310km section between Cagliari and El-Kala on the Algerian coast making up the balance.
You might also like...
PIF entity makes $1bn Lucid placement
29 March 2024
Petro Rabigh awards KBR maintenance contract
29 March 2024
Diriyah Company seeks firms for demolition package
29 March 2024
Consultant appointed for Ellington Views RAK project
29 March 2024
A MEED Subscription...
Subscribe or upgrade your current MEED.com package to support your strategic planning with the MENA region’s best source of business information. Proceed to our online shop below to find out more about the features in each package.