The NEL (Nordeuropäische Erdgasleitung (English: Northern European natural gas pipeline), formerly known as Norddeutsche Erdgasleitung, is a long natural gas pipeline in Germany.
The pipeline runs from Lubmin near Greifswald through Sülstorf and Achim to Rehden. It connects the Nord Stream 1 pipeline with the Rehden-Hamburg and MIDAL pipelines. The pipeline started operations on 5 November 2012. Between Sülstorf and Achim, it uses a pre-existing installation.
The diameter of the pipeline is and it uses operating pressure. Its capacity is of natural gas per year. The pipeline is expected to cost around â¬1 billion.
The developer of the pipeline asked exemption from the network access and transit fees regulation; however, this request was denied.
The pipeline was built by OPAL NEL TRANSPORT GmbH. It is operated by NEL Gastransport GmbH, owned by WIGA Transport Beteiligungs-GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture of Wintershall Dea and Gazprom.