Priority Emergency Investments in Oil and Gas Infrastructures - Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova) (97.03.03)

Project Description

During the selection phase among 9 projects two priority projects were identified to be executed:

1. Preparation of basic engineering designs for the metering stations at Grebenyky (Ukraine), Kaushany (Moldova) and Kobrin (Belarus);
2. Construction of cross-border metering stations at Grebenyky (on the Ukrainian-Moldovian border) and Kaushany (on the Moldovian-Ukrainian border).

The local installation and construction activities at Grebenyky commenced in autumn 1999 and were successfully executed in September/October 2001. Instromet installed the equipment at Grebenyky in September/October 2001. Training and a Site Acceptance Test (SAT) were held in November 2001. Arrangements were made to install the facilities in Kaushany, give the training and the SAT were held in the first half of 2002 upon completion by Moldovagaz of the required local construction activities. Due to severe budget limitations, Moldovagaz finally started local activities in May 2001. Project completion in spring 2004.

Project Objective

• Promoting the regional integration of the oil and gas pipeline systems
• Facilitating oil and gas transport both within the region and towards the export markets of Europe

Specific Objectives

• Identification and selection of priority investments that meet predefined technical, operational and economical criteria
• Setting up the technical and other conditions for those investments to be implemented efficiently on a pilot basis with the support of Tacis financing and the preparation of local counterparts, firms and experts
• Monitoring the installation of the pilot investments optimising all components, which will enhance the standardisation of selected investments in terms of operational, environmental, maintainability, safety and health conditions
• Training local firms in project identification, preparation, evaluation, supervision and more generally implementation techniques including the possibility of local assembly and manufacturing of project components and the establishing of joint ventures

Expected Results

During the selection phase among 9 projects two priority projects were identified to be executed:

1. Preparation of basic engineering designs for the metering stations at Grebenyky (Ukraine), Kaushany (Moldova) and Kobrin (Belarus);
2. Construction of cross-border metering stations at Grebenyky (on the Ukrainian-Moldovian border) and Kaushany (on the Moldovian-Ukrainian border).

The local installation and construction activities at Grebenyky commenced in autumn 1999 and were successfully executed in September/October 2001. Instromet installed the equipment at Grebenyky in September/October 2001. Training and a Site Acceptance Test (SAT) were held in November 2001. Arrangements were made to install the facilities in Kaushany, give the training and the SAT were held in the first half of 2002 upon completion by Moldovagaz of the required local construction activities. Due to severe budget limitations, Moldovagaz finally started local activities in May 2001. Project completion in spring 2004.

Expected date of metering station launching/ organisers:

For Grebenyky Gas Metering Station: September/October 2001.
For Kaushany Gas Metering Station: May/June 2002.

Conclusions and summaries:

The Project was successful completed. Grebenyky Gas Metering Station was launched in autumn 2001. Its official inauguration took place on 31 October 2001 with participation of the Ukrainian authorities and high-level European officials. Kaushany station was put into operation in July 2003. The metering stations Grebenyky and Kaushany measure the gas flow in the transit system from Russia to Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey using modern measuring and analyzing equipment:

• Ultrasonic gas meters;
• Automatic sampling and analysing systems;
• Flow supervisory system including software for custody gas metering report generation.

Realization of two metering stations at the transit gas lines from Russia into the Balkans means that the project is a step forward in meeting the wider objectives of the INOGATE Programme. Because the two stations are of identical design, exchange of operating and maintenance experience is beneficial to both countries and will promote regional integration.