South Wales Gas Pipeline

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The South Wales Gas Pipeline (also known as the Milford Haven pipeline) is the UK’s largest high-pressure gas pipeline. The 197 mile (316 km) pipeline passing through Wales is built for the National Grid UK and will link liquid natural gas (LNG) terminals at Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire with the national gas network at Tirley, Gloucestershire.

Expected to cost around £700 million, the pipeline will, according to the National Grid, be expected to transport around 20% of the gas needed to meet UK consumption in future. Construction of the pipeline is estimated to take approximately three years, aiming to end in October 2007. ^[1] Environmental controversy surrounds the decision to build it, especially through the Brecon Beacons where the national park authority called it a “huge blow”. ^[2]

Swansea's Studio8 parodied a BBC Panorama report entitled "Pipeline Paranoia" in 2006, accusing the pipeline of being a vessel for transporting French citizens to Wales. Studio8 Video

1 Planning and significance
- 1.1 Environmental concerns
- 1.2 Protest
2 Technical description and route
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Planning and significance

Ruled a national energy security issue by the government, the pipeline's significance lies in the UK’s move from being a net exporter to a net importer of energy as the North Sea oil and gas fields are used up. As National Grid states: "The reality is that the offshore fields are decreasing in output and demand for gas from homes and businesses is growing at such a rate, that analysis shows that the UK will become increasingly dependent upon imported gas over the coming years." ^[3] This depletion was predicted by Hubbert peak theory. As a result, the energy policy of the United Kingdom is likely to become an increasingly important issue and importation of liquid natural gas from the Middle East will help diversify UK energy supplies otherwise dependent on a few suppliers such as Russia.

This energy security concern accounts for the great rapidity in planning of the pipeline route, starting in 2003, as existing South Wales pipelines were too small to transport the gas needed from the planned terminals. An alternative subsea route using similar technology to the Langeled pipeline, which was being planned and built at the same time, was ruled out for expense reasons. Critics have suggested that the money on the pipeline and terminals would be better spent on renewable energy sources which will provide permanent energy security and will also prevent global warming. ^[4]

National Grid claims that the project also has significant benefits for the Welsh economy: "The pipeline means for the first time, South Wales will be at the ‘front end’ rather than the ‘tail end’ of the UK gas transmission network. At present, gas flows west into Wales from England." It also states that the project will "secure Wales’ energy supply for many years to come, and will allow further economic development in South Wales." ^[5]

An immediate benefit has accrued to farmers over whose land the pipeline has been constructed. They have received compensation often amounting, in these days of low incomes especially for hill farmers, to several years' net income.

[edit] Environmental concerns

In Milford Haven concerns have focused on the possibility of collision between LNG tankers and oil tankers in one of the UK's busiest ports, as well as the danger that the terminals will be a target for terrorism.^[6] A 16-mile section of the pipeline will pass through part of the Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales, despite repeated objections from the National Park Authority.^[7] ^[8] The park contains some of the most sensitive environmental areas in the UK, including Fforest Fawr Geopark, awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO, and special areas of conservation like the Usk and Wye Valleys. It was allowed within the Brecon Beacons National Park as it was ruled a “critical” part of future energy needs on February 7, 2007 by the Department of Trade and Industry.^[9]

The route includes unstable areas such as Trebanos, liable to landslide and earthquake due to extensive historic mineworkings, which are deemed too dangerous for mains gas to be piped to local homes. Originally the pipeline area was to be cleared using explosives despite the fact that government regulations required authorization for any blasting in such a geologically sensitive area. Local people raised concerns and permission was denied in November 2006, but the pipeline was still laid in this uncertain area. As one local said: "If there was a shift or a landslip again, my fear is that the pipe would fracture, and we'd get an enormous gas leak." National Grid claims that the pipeline will be secure. ^[10] An undiscovered Roman road was found during the building of the pipeline near Brecon and was partially destroyed as a result.^[11]

[edit] Protest

The environmental consequences of the pipeline and the perceived lack of local consultation have led to considerable protest. Protests are organised by local groups along with Safe Haven Network, supported by climate change action group Rising Tide UK. Work was delayed by protest in November 2006 at Trebanos. Other protests and camps have occurred at Milford Haven, Cilfrew, Alltwen, and Brecon, with locals and activists regularly disrupting work. There are strong similarities to the concerns raised by the anti-pipeline protest movement at County Mayo, Ireland organized by Shell To Sea. The tactics used are similar to those used in similar environmental direct action protests. ^[12]

The opposition is also supported by a perception by local Welsh people that a pipeline like this would not be permitted in England, raising echoes of the infamous drowning of Capel Celyn for a reservoir. Local councils such as Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council have been pressured to speed up planning permission. Planning decisions were pushed through, as in the case of the Cilfrew Pressure Reduction Installation which was approved only by excluding certain protesting councillors from the vote, a process deemed illegal by a high court judge saying "it is a wonder that anybody votes on anything".^[13] The result of this decision led the National Grid to declare a force majeure notice in April 2007 to avoid any responsibility for any delays in gas delivery. ^[14] In June 2007 a High Court ruling meant the Brecon protest camp featuring tree houses and tunnels open since January was closed down with a number of protestors arrested and substantial local disruption to roads. ^[15] In Peterstow Herefordshire protestors managed to force the National Grid to choose another site that was more expensive but more enviromentaly friendly for their installation. ^[16]

[edit] Technical description and route

The pipeline will be operated at a higher pressure than all other gas pipelines in the UK: 94 barg (1364 psi) instead of 85 barg (1231 psi). This pressure is higher than most standard pipelines worldwide and will increase the chance of pipe leak and corrosion, though other such high-pressure pipelines have been successfully run in Germany, for example.^[17] It is buried 1.2 metres underground for most of the route. National Grid states that after the pipe is buried the large amount of vegetation, subsoil and topsoil removed covering the width of a dual carriageway will be replaced, levelled and cultivated to restore the land to its original condition. They consult and use a wide range of environmental experts to help restore the environment. ^[18]

[edit] Milford Haven Terminals

Beginning at Herbrandston, west of Milford Haven, the pipeline connects to South Hook LNG which will be the biggest LNG terminal in the world and is a joint project between Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil. It then runs to near Waterston, the site of a second, smaller terminal, Dragon LNG, which is run by a consortium in which BG Group is the major partner.^[19]

[edit] Milford Haven - Aberdulais section

Pipeline routing was planned January 2004 to March 2005; while consent and land acquisition took from March 2005 to spring 2006. Construction began on this 120 km (75 mile) section on March 2006. The pipeline diameter is 1220 mm (48 inches). It runs to Aberdulais where, at the Cilfrew Pressure Reduction Installation, pressure will be reduced so that gas can flow into the existing pipeline network serving south Wales. The contractor is Nacap Land & Marine Joint Venture. ^[20]

[edit] Felindre - Tirley section

Starting from a new compressor station at Felindre near Swansea the pipeline runs to a new Pressure Reduction installation at Corse near Tirley, Gloucestershire where it connects with the existing gas pipeline network. This 122 mile (196 km) section will pass through 16 miles of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Pipeline routeing and environmental impact assessment took place from October 2004 to summer 2006; while consent and land acquisition took from winter 2005 to February 2007. The pipeline diameter is 1220 mm (48 inches). Construction began on this section on February 2007. The contactor for the Felindre to Brecon section is Nacap Land & Marine Joint Venture and for Brecon to Tirley section Murphy Pipelines Ltd.

The contentious nature of this section led to consultations with key statutory bodies, such as the Countryside Council for Wales, English Nature, the Brecon Beacons National Park, the Environment Agency, the Welsh Assembly Government and Blaenavon World Heritage Partnership. ^[21]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links