Austria's biggest natural gas pipeline hub Baumgarten will be brought back online in a few hours, the hub's operator announced late Tuesday.
Following a gas explosion on Tuesday morning that killed one person and left at least 18 injured, the pipeline was temporarily shut down. Afterwards, the Baumgarten hub's operator, Gas Connect Austria, said some parts of the plant affected by the incident were non-operational.
"However, following extensive investigations by the fire brigade and the regional police, flows on the Trans Austria Gas pipeline towards Italy, the West Austria Gas pipeline to Germany and the Hungary-Austria Gas pipeline will be restored over the next few hours," the company explained.
"With the restart of operations on the international pipeline systems, it will be possible to resume transit through Austria, thereby restoring security of supply for the affected countries," the company added.
Italian gas operator Snam, who receives gas through the Austrian route, said gas flows could resume on Wednesday night, Dec. 13.
The Baumgarten hub is located about 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of Austria’s capital Vienna.
Baumgarten receives natural gas via Slovakia and Germany from where it is transported to Europe via the Austrian natural gas transmission network. The Baumgarten hub mostly receives Russian gas. The hub also takes shipments from Norway and other countries. These supplies are re-routed to consumption centers in Austria and in Europe via a number of pipeline systems running in various directions, according to Gas Connect Austria.
By Murat Temizer
Anadolu Agency