Golden weld heralds completion

Gas network operator Open Grid Europe GmbH (OGE) reaches important milestone in construction of the Etzel-Wardenburg (EWA) pipeline | Construction lots connected in Wiefelstede | OGE experts to remain on site even after commissioning

OGE’s newbuild Etzel-Wardenburg (EWA) pipeline project is on the home stretch. The completion of the last weld, known in technical jargon as the “golden weld”, marks an important milestone in pipeline construction projects ahead of commissioning, with the new pipeline due to start transporting gas at the end of the year. The milestone was celebrated by OGE’s EWA team together with representatives of our partner companies and local politicians. 

Etzel-Wardenburg pipeline enhances security of supply

The 60 km EWA section is part of the Etzel-Wardenburg-Drohne pipeline, which will help secure Germany’s supply of natural gas. It connects to the Wilhelmshaven pipeline link (WAL), completed in 2022, and will in future transport natural gas landed in northern Germany. Starting in Etzel, the EWA pipeline shares most of its route with the Norddeutsche Erdgas-Transversale (NETRA) pipeline to the NETRA compressor station in Wardenburg. It has a pipe diameter of 1200 mm, is designed for a pressure of up to 100 bar and is H2-ready. OGE had received early approval for the start of initial construction activities back in October 2024, and now the OGE team working on the EWA project and its partner companies have been able to celebrate the “golden weld”. MAX STREICHER GmbH & Co. KG aA was the contractor responsible for lot 1 of the project, while the contract for lot 2 was awarded to a group of companies known as ARGE EWA, consisting of FRIEDRICH VORWERK SE & Co. KG, Bohlen & Doyen Bau GmbH, PPS Pipeline Systems GmbH and HABAU Hoch- und Tiefbaugesellschaft m. b. H.

“Golden weld” serves as a symbol of successful cooperation

“The EWA pipeline project only took around three years from the initial planning stage to commissioning. This was only possible thanks to the close cooperation within the construction team, and above all the strong ties with the region,” explained Detlef Brüggemeyer, OGE’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), in his welcome address. He also emphasised the importance of the northern region for Germany’s energy supply – currently with natural gas and in the future also with hydrogen. This region and the EWA pipeline project, he said, had a prominent role to play. Pipeline projects are visible and, in some cases, even tangible, and OGE always seeks to develop its pipeline projects in an open and transparent manner and engage in dialogue. “Here in the region, people think and act the same as we do. Challenges are tackled jointly with all sides treating one another as equals,” he added, expressing his gratitude. Equipped with the necessary protective clothing and standing at a sufficient distance, the guests then witnessed the completion of the “golden weld” at the construction site on Gristeder Straße in Wiefelstede.

All in all, it was a really positive experience for the construction team. After submitting the documents for planning approval at the end of 2023 and receiving a positive decision from the State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG), OGE’s EWA team and its partner companies managed to almost complete the construction phase in one year. The final work including the gassing up of the pipeline will now have to be completed before it goes into operation as planned at the end of the year. Land restoration is already well under way but will have to be suspended due to weather and resumed as soon as possible next year. Even after commissioning, OGE’s experts will remain on site as local contacts for the region.