NRL III pipeline construction project
North Sea Ruhr Link III – bringing hydrogen from Lower Saxony to North Rhine-Westphalia
North Sea Ruhr Link III is the third section of the North Sea Ruhr Link finally connecting the north of Germany with the north-west in Westphalia.
Together with other national gas network operators, OGE has been tasked by the Federal Network Agency and the German government to develop a Germany-wide hydrogen core network. The North Sea Ruhr Link is a central transmission route for hydrogen from the northern coastal regions to the north-west of Germany, connecting the northern import corridor as well as national producers and consumers of hydrogen along the route.
North Sea Ruhr Link III runs for approx. 122 km from Bunde to Wettringen in Westphalia. Unlike the other sections of the North Sea Ruhr Link pipeline, it crosses two federal states – Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia.
Facts and figures
approx. 122KM
Pipeline length
buried
Type of installation
100 bar
Design pressure
DN 1200
Pipe diameter
Q3 2026
Construction
Q4 2027
Completion
Planning status
We are currently preparing the application documents for the planning approval procedure. The authorities in charge are the State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG) in Hanover and the district government of Münster.
As with North Sea Ruhr Link I and IV, the framework agreement concluded with the rural associations of Friesland, Wesermarsch, Norden-Emden, Aurich and Emsland/Grafschaft Bentheim also applies to North Sea Ruhr Link III.
In January and February, a total of seven ‘dialogue events’ were held along the route of the Lower Saxony section of North Sea Ruhr Link III in Geeste, Wietmarschen, Emsbüren, Haren, Rhede, Dörpen/Heede and Bunde, where we informed some 630 people about our project. All events included a non-public meeting for landowners, tenants or land managers affected by the pipeline project as well as an open ‘dialogue market’ for interested members of the public. Ast these events, Lambert Huring from Landvolkverband Emsland / Grafschaft Bentheim and Johannes Müller from Landvolkverband Ostfriesland presented the framework agreement concluded with OGE.
According to current plans and in view of the requirements specified for the hydrogen core network, we plan to submit the application documents for planning approval to the State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology for Lower Saxony and to the Münster district government for North Rhine-Westphalia before the end of 2025.