For improved gas supply: MONACO pipeline by bayernets

Full Press Statement

Mühldorf/Altötting – The MONACO natural gas pipeline operated by bayernets GmbH is making a key contribution to secure and sustainable energy supply. The underground pipeline also passes through the districts of Altötting and Mühldorf.

Today, bayernets GmbH officially celebrated the commissioning of the MONACO pipeline in the municipality of Finsing (Erding district), with Bavarian Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Hubert Aiwanger in attendance.

Though officially in service since December 2018, the MONACO pipeline — extending from the German-Austrian border at Burghausen to Finsing near Munich — is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the gas sector in southern Germany. “We are aiming for a comprehensive strategy that ensures secure, affordable, and sustainable energy supply. Natural gas plays a vital role in this. To balance the volatility of renewables, we need regional, climate-friendly gas-fired power plants. These must be reliably supplied with natural gas,” said Minister Aiwanger. “The MONACO pipeline is an important step toward securing Bavaria’s gas supply.” Dr. Matthias Jenn, Managing Director of bayernets GmbH, added: “We are proud to have brought the MONACO pipeline into operation on schedule. It significantly enhances the security of supply for Bavaria and southern Germany. It also contributes to meeting the increasing demand for gas transport capacity across Germany and Europe by connecting national and international pipeline systems.” The underground pipeline runs approximately 87 kilometers through the districts of Altötting, Mühldorf am Inn, and Erding in Upper Bavaria, with a diameter of 1.2 meters.

As a transmission system operator, bayernets has invested over €200 million in Bavaria’s gas infrastructure through the MONACO project. Further details about the MONACO pipeline are available at www.monaco.bayernets.de.

As part of Germany’s Gas Network Development Plan, the MONACO pipeline enhances security of supply for municipal utilities, regional suppliers, businesses, and industry within the bayernets grid area. Technically challenging construction elements included underwater installation in the Sempt and Schwillach rivers (approx. 1,200 meters), tunneling under the Inn River and Innwerk Canal near Kraiburg am Inn (approx. 700 meters), crossing of the Alz River and Alz Canal in the Altötting district, and the 700-meter-long section through the Mörntal area in the Altötting and Mühldorf districts.

Revegetation and restoration work along the pipeline route is expected to continue through the first half of 2019. These efforts aim to fully restore the agricultural usability of affected lands and reinstate roads and pathways in close coordination with local authorities and infrastructure stakeholders.

Source: bayernets