Norway: New pipeline edges forward

A STATOILHYDRO-backed plan for a new gas-export pipeline to continental Europe was quashed by the energy ministry in October 2007 – but that has not discouraged a group of mainly Scandinavian energy companies, which wants to pipe Norwegian gas to Sweden and Denmark. Last month, Gassco – the country's state-owned pipelines operator – awarded initial design contracts for the new pipeline, on behalf the 10-company Skanled group. Gassco says an investment decision on the NKr10bn ($1.87bn) pipeline is due in October next year, allowing deliveries to start in December 2012. Gas will flow from the Kårstø terminal, north of Stavanger – where gas is landed through the Åsgard Transport and Statpipe sy