Schwechat – Bratislava Pipeline: Abandoned After Nearly 20 Years

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As reported by ORF, as of today, the project’s cancellation marks the end of a lengthy endeavor that aimed to streamline the transportation of crude oil destined for Austria’s Schwechat refinery, operated by OMV in Bruck an der Leitha district.

Currently, all crude oil bound for Austria finds its way to the Schwechat refinery via the Adria-Wien Pipeline and the Transalpine Pipeline. The proposed route through Slovakia was initially set in motion back in 2003, according to reports from the Lower Austrian Economic Press Service.

Unfortunately, despite years of negotiations and planning, the joint operating company, Bratislava-Schwechat Pipeline GmbH, has been dissolved, signalling the definitive halt of the project as of the end of last year.

The decision not to proceed with the pipeline was made by OMV in March 2022, reportedly in consultation with Transpetrol.

One of the key factors cited for the project’s demise is the prolonged struggle to obtain necessary approvals from the Slovak Republic over the past two decades.

Delays were exacerbated by the evolving energy landscape, with OMV stressing that the sector is undergoing a transformation that renders further investment in oil pipelines unnecessary.

Spanning a mere 62 kilometers between Schwechat and Bratislava, the pipeline aimed to directly connect to the Russian “Druzhba” (meaning “Friendship”) network.

In contrast, the alternative route through the Black Sea, Bosporus, and Trieste proved significantly longer and costlier, before reaching the Schwechat refinery for further processing.

Moreover, shifting geopolitical dynamics, particularly Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine since February 2022, have prompted Austria to reassess its reliance on Russian oil and gas.

However, OMV declined to comment on this matter when approached.

The Austrian Ministry for Climate Protection noted that, according to their information, there is no longer a need for the pipeline.

This is partly due to Austria ceasing oil imports from Russia since February 2023. Consequently, OMV’s decision to discontinue the project aligns with these developments, as per the ministry’s statement.

Issues surrounding ownership complexities involving Transpetrol’s Slovakian shareholder have also contributed to the project’s troubled history.

The involvement of the Russian conglomerate Yukos, which held a 49% stake in Transpetrol for a considerable period, added layers of complexity. It wasn’t until 2009 that Slovakia managed to acquire Yukos’ shares in Transpetrol, allowing the company to regain its trading viability.

The pipeline’s controversial trajectory, particularly its proposed passage through one of Slovakia’s largest drinking water reservoirs, had been a point of contention in the past.

However, neither OMV nor Transpetrol have confirmed whether environmental concerns played a significant role in the prolonged delays.

With the Schwechat – Bratislava pipeline now officially off the table, attention shifts towards alternative strategies in navigating the evolving energy landscape while ensuring security and sustainability in the supply chain.

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