The pipeline to unification
Over the last century the development of piping technology made Europe more dependent on international cooperation and regulations. Due to industrial developments in WWII it became possible to produce reliable pipelines to transport gas. Throughout the following decades the construction of pipelines from Russia, the Middle-East, Norway and the Netherlands were realised, connecting European countries and creating interdependency. This was influenced by the invention of pressurised gas pipelines by compressor stations and the cooling of the gas, decreasing its size 600 times. This enabled larger quantities to be transported, increasing the reliance on certain pipelines.
This transformation of less profitable local coal gas production to profitable natural gas production changed the gas infrastructure from local to international. Since the signing of the EEC Treaty in 1957 the trade and production of natural gas and other resources had been closely monitored and regulated to ensure that an ever increasing number of European countries work together instead of opposing one another, preventing Europe to plunge back into war. By the EU it was considered such a ‘premium fuel’ that it should be reserved for ‘special cases’, and strict legislation was adopted. But how ‘special’ is the situation we are facing today?
How to cite this page
'The pipeline to unification', Inventing Europe, http://www.inventingeurope.eu/story/the-pipeline-to-unification
Sources
1. “The Natural Gas Chain,” Gas Infrastructure Europe, accessed 17th of November 2013, http://www.gie.eu/KC/gasinfrastructure.html
Used to explain the technological systems used to produce and transport the natural gas.
2. “Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, EEC Treaty”, European Union, accessed 17th of November 2013, http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/institutional_affairs/treaties/treaties_eec_en.htm
Used to explain the role of the EU in the unison of Europe.
3. “The History of Gas,” Polinares, Paul Stevens, accessed on 8th of December 2013, http://www.polinares.eu/docs/d1-1/polinares_wp1_history_gas.pdf
Used to explain the EU’s role in gas regulations.
