Deputy Minister-President Mona Neubaur visits Mannesmann Line Pipe in Hamm

Hamm. Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy and Deputy Minister-President of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia visited Mannesmann Line Pipe GmbH in Hamm today, August 5, 2022. The politician informed herself about the manufacturing of steel pipes for the pipeline connecting up to the LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven.

Mannesmann Line Pipe GmbH, a subsidiary of Salzgitter AG, was commissioned by the company Buhlmann to deliver around 800 tons of steel pipes. The end customer is Uniper. Delegates from the companies also attended the event. The pipes are destined for a 3.3 kilometer, high pressure gas pipeline linking up to the Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal. Sister company Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH is supplying the input material.

A pipeline will run from the new LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven to the vicinity of the gas caverns in Etzel where it will be integrated into the existing German gas transmission network. Initially up to around 7.5 billion cubic meters of gas from the North Sea coast can be transported from there to the south and the east of the country. Salzgitter AG subsidiary Mannesmann Grossrohr GmbH has already delivered the steel pipes for this pipeline.

As Andreas Betzler, commercial manager, explains: “We are delighted by the keen interest in our company and are proud that our steel pipes are making a contribution to securing Germany’s energy supply. We were able to make production capacities available at short notice and respond flexibly. The transition to clean sources of energy requires innovative steel products and a sound local material basis. With its integrated steel production and companies, the Salzgitter Group offers this basis for further processing. We are therefore perfectly positioned for the imminent expansion of the natural gas distribution grid and for the upcoming hydrogen infrastructure.”

As Minister Mona Neubaur comments: “Today has clearly illustrated once again: North Rhine-Westphalia’s technical know-how is more in demand than ever and indispensable for the huge challenges of the energy transition and climate change. With steel pipes made in NRW, Mannesmann Line Pipe’s plant is not only making an important contribution to the fast construction of the LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven, but also toward securing gas supplies for the whole of Germany.”

As Holger Kreetz, COO Asset Management, Uniper, states: “Our planned LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven plays a key role in securing Germany’s supply reliability, and, accordingly, the pressure is on as far as timelines are concerned. This is why it is so important to have reliable partners like Mannesmann Line Pipe GmbH that support us with the necessary pragmatism and expertise. Thanks to the smooth cooperation with policy makers, construction work is making rapid progress. We are looking forward to the pipeline going live in the 2022/2023 winter season.”

Expanding the grid to handle other media, such as hydrogen and carbon dioxide, will be necessary in the future. Today, Mannesmann Line Pipe already has the right products for transporting hydrogen, H2ready pipes being an example, and has supplied many projects in the past. Climate change will also dictate that water and potable water will have to be transported via pipelines over longer distances.

Mannesmann Line Pipe GmbH is a leading specialist for HFI-longitudinally welded steel pipes with an extensive range of various dimensions and grades. With a workforce of around 350 employees, the company manufactures for customers across the globe at its plants in Hamm and Siegen. Mannesmann Line Pipe is a member of the Salzgitter Group. Salzgitter AG ranks among Europe’s leading steel and technology corporations.