Prevent damage, keep interference voltage under control
Pipelines often run alongside high-voltage lines or railway lines. If they run parallel over longer distances, external voltages can have a negative effect on pipelines causing wear and tear and thus corrosion damage.
Personal protection is the top priority
If the potential on the pipeline is too high, it can lead to unacceptably high touch voltages which might endanger people in areas where the system is freely accessible or during maintenance work.