International transport

Principal gas transport infrastructures in Europe
Enlarge image Principal gas transport infrastructures in Europe (map)

Eni has transport rights on a large European network of integrated infrastructure for transporting natural gas, which links key consumption basins with the main producing areas (Russia, Algeria, Libya and the North Sea, including the Netherland and Norway).

Eni owns capacity entitlements in an extensive network of international high pressure pipelines enabling the Company to import and sell in Italy and in Europe natural gas produced in Russia, Algeria, the North Sea, including the Netherlands and Norway, and Libya. The Company participates to both entities which operate the pipelines and entities which manage transport rights.

A description of the main international pipelines currently participated or operated by Eni is provided below:

  • the TTPC pipeline, 740-kilometer long, made up of two lines that are each 370-kilometer long with a transport capacity of 33.2 bcm/y and five compression stations. This pipeline transports natural gas from Algeria across Tunisia from Oued Saf Saf at the Algerian border to Cap Bon on the Mediterranean coast where it links with the TMPC pipeline. The pipeline was recently upgraded by increasing compression capacity in order to enable transportation of an additional 6.5 bcm/y. The upgrade was finalized in 2008 and became fully-operational during 2009;
  • the TMPC pipeline for the import of Algerian gas is 775-kilometer long and consists of five lines that are each 155-kilometer long with a transport capacity of 33.5 bcm/y. It crosses the underwater Sicily Channel from Cap Bon to Mazara del Vallo in Sicily, the point of entry into the Italian natural gas transport system;
  • the GreenStream pipeline, jointly-owned with the Libyan National Oil Company, started operations in October 2004 for the import of Libyan gas produced at Eni operated fields Bahr Essalam and Wafa. It is 520-kilometer long with a transport capacity of 11 bcm/y and crosses underwater in the Mediterranean Sea from Mellitah on the Libyan coast to Gela in Sicily, the point of entry into the Italian natural gas transport system.

Eni holds a 50% interest in the Blue Stream underwater pipeline (water depth greater than 2,150 meters) linking the Russian coast to the Turkish coast of the Black Sea. This pipeline is 774-kilometer long on two lines and has transport capacity of 16 bcm/y.

It is part of a joint venture to sell gas produced in Russia on the Turkish market. These assets generate a stable operating profit, thanks to the transport rights sales, on long-term base.