Trans-Siberian Pipeline
The Trans-Siberian Pipeline is a significant pipeline system that transports natural gas from Siberia to various European countries, initially constructed during the 1980s amidst geopolitical tensions. It spans approximately 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles), originating from Urengoy, near the Arctic Circle, and extending to nations including West Germany, France, and Italy. The project was prompted by Europe’s need for alternative energy sources following the oil crises of the 1970s, as nations sought to reduce dependence on Middle Eastern oil. Designed with the help of European technical and material support, the pipeline's construction was completed in 1984.
Despite its success in facilitating energy supply and economic cooperation, the pipeline raises significant environmental concerns due to its route through sensitive ecosystems in Siberia, such as tundra and taiga. Environmental impacts have included damage from construction activities and ongoing issues with maintenance, particularly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which led to weakened regulations. Throughout its operation, the pipeline has experienced incidents, including oil seepages and explosions, highlighting the challenges of managing such a vast infrastructure. Overall, while the Trans-Siberian Pipeline serves as a critical energy link, it also illustrates the complex interplay between resource extraction, geopolitical factors, and environmental stewardship.
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Trans-Siberian Pipeline
Identification: Pipeline built to carry natural gas from the Siberian Urengoy gas field to Western Europe
Date: Completed in 1984
The building of the Trans-Siberian Pipeline through formerly pristine and fragile ecosystems resulted in serious environmental damage to those systems, and environmentalists continue to be concerned regarding the quality of the ongoing maintenance of the pipeline system.
After World War II, Europe became increasingly dependent on the oil-producing countries of the Middle East for its fuel needs. However, the Arab-Israeli conflicts of 1973 alarmed European countries and prompted them to seek other sources of energy. One alternative was to utilize larger amounts of natural gas; the use of this form of fuel more than doubled during the late 1970’s. Natural gas is cheaper than oil or coal, but transporting it requires enormous initial investments of capital and technology because pipelines are the only practical means of conveyance. In such pipelines, the natural gas is moved along the pipes in liquid form by the use of strategically located compressing stations.
In 1980 West German chancellor Helmut Schmidt, after a visit to Moscow, announced a plan for the Soviets to build a Euro-Siberian gas pipeline. It would start at Urengoy, east of the Ural Mountains and near the Arctic Circle, and extend westward to West Germany, France, and Italy. Objections to building the pipeline came largely from Europe’s North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally, the United States. It was feared that if an armed conflict were to break out, the Soviets would have an undue advantage over the Western Europeans.
The plan called for a 5,790-kilometer (3,600-mile) pipeline, four times the length of the controversial Trans-Alaska Pipeline, which had just been completed. Several small cities were built to accommodate the construction workers. Preparations for extraction and construction of the pipeline, which began in the early 1980’s, required technical assistance, materials, and personnel provided by the potential European customer nations. In addition to West Germany, the largest purchaser, other countries were Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Construction of the pipeline began in 1982 and was completed in 1984, with a finished length of 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles). Despite the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991, the pipeline has operated for the most part without adverse economic or political consequences.
Although successful as a political and commercial venture, the Trans-Siberian Pipeline deserves attention because of its environmental impact. The resource-rich region of Siberia includes vast areas of tundra, taiga, and other fragile ecosystems, many of them in relatively pristine condition. As a result of the extraction process, the building of roads, and related activities, significant damage occurred to the environment that will require centuries for nature to correct. Many of these environmental concerns were compounded by the collapse of the Soviet Union and the resulting economic chaos. Given the new Russian republic’s need of cash and weak environmental laws, some observers expressed concern that the pipeline would not be properly maintained, thus creating the potential for considerable environmental damage. Several sections of the Trans-Siberian Pipeline have burst over its years of operation, including a major oil seepage that occurred near the port of Archangel in 1994. In 2007 two explosions occurred at different places along the pipeline.
Bibliography
Miller, G. Tyler, Jr., and Scott Spoolman. “Nonrenewable Energy.” In Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections, and Solutions. 16th ed. Belmont, Calif.: Brooks/Cole, 2009.
Tusiani, Michael D., and Gordon Shearer. LNG: A Nontechnical Guide. Tulsa, Okla.: PennWell Books, 2007.