Voestalpine Grobblech in Linz will deliver 120,000 tonnes of high-strength linepipe plate, which is sour-gas-resistant for the second South Stream pipeline. The Austrian-based group tells Kallanish that this is its third major contract in the pipeline business this year, following its first – now completed – Russian-European pipeline project South Stream, and the Rota 3 pipeline in Brazil, 

As with the first South Stream pipeline, 35% of the project volume goes to voestalpine’s long-term Russian tube-making partner OMK. The latter will source around half its heavy plate requirement from Linz. Delivery is scheduled to take place from December through to spring 2015.

The South Stream contract is not affected by the sanctions, which were recently levied against EU exports of certain linepipe products to Russia in response to the crisis in Eastern Ukraine, notes voestalpine. The company adds that it is also negotiating for other extremely challenging pipeline projects.

The South Stream pipeline is around 2,300km long, of which 931km is offshore at depths of up to 2,200 meters. This offshore section will be made from 75,000 tubes, each 12 meters in length and with a wall thickness of 39mm.The pipeline will connect Europe with the world’s largest gas reserves in Russia, and aims to secure Europe’s long-term gas supplies. It is a joint venture between companies from Italy, Germany, France and Austria, together with Russia’s Gazprom.