OREANDA-NEWS. August 29, 2014. Tskhinval (South Ossetia) hosted today the celebrations dedicated to the 5th anniversary of commissioning the Dzuarikau – Tskhinval gas pipeline, the most highland one in the world.

The project is unique in the history of the global gas industry. A highly sophisticated engineering challenge was completed under very tight deadline – from the end of 2006 to August 2009. The 162-kilometer gas pipeline was constructed in a harsh geological and climatic environment of the mountainous part of the Great Caucasus. The pipeline route crosses five mountain ridges and rises to the height of 3,148 meters at the Kudar Pass.

Almost a half of the route runs in highlands over 1,500 meters high in the areas of tectonic faults and intense seismic activity featured by hazards of landslides, mudflows and avalanches. 15 tunnels with the total length of 1,848 meters and 29 water crosses were constructed along the pipeline route.

The Dzuarikau – Tskhinval gas pipeline has a vital importance for South Ossetia and is a key element of a modern infrastructure in the Republic. Particularly, gas supplies have become more stable and reliable; all the necessary conditions have been created to boost the local economy and gasification process. New engineering solutions applied during the Dzuarikau – Tskhinval construction are nowadays serve as a standard during the construction and operation of other similar facilities.