26.08.2022
Construction of Poland – Slovakia Gas Interconnector completed
On 26 August this year, a ceremony was held in Strachocina, Poland, to mark the end of construction of a new gas connection between Poland and Slovakia. The planned start date for commercial operation of this interconnector is October 2022.
Representatives of the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the Slovak Republic were present at the ceremony in Strachocina.
The completed pipeline will enable gas transmission of 5.7 bcm (per year) to Poland and 4.7 bcm (per year) to Slovakia. With this gas connection, Poland will gain infrastructural access to gas sources located in Southern Europe, North Africa and the Caucasus. Slovakia and other countries in the CEE will gain access to gas from the Baltic Pipe (Norwegian shelf), the LNG Terminal in Świnoujście, and the LNG Terminal in Klaipėda.
“The war in Ukraine showed us how fragile the energy stability is. The gas pipeline project between Slovakia and Poland is a strategic step and an important European project. For Slovakia it means gas supplies security, it will give us access to LNG gas transported by sea and to resources from Norway. The launch of the gas pipeline is an important contribution of Poland and Slovakia to pan-European energy security,” Prime Minister Eduard Heger.
“Poland-Slovakia pipeline is a great achievement for CEE energy security. Its timely completion is an important signal before the upcoming heating season, as it opens new possibilities for supplying our markets. This was only possible thanks to the continuous support of both private and state shareholders, outstanding work of our employees and all domestic and international partners.” EUSTREM’s general director Rastislav Ňukovič.
The Poland-Slovakia pipeline has a total length of 164 km and a diameter of DN 1000. The gas pipeline on the Polish side (Strachocina − Polish border) is 61.3 km long. The length of the interconnector on the Slovakian side is 103 km and ends at the gas compressor station Veľké Kapušany in Slovakia.
Connection of the Slovak and Polish gas transmission systems has been recognized as vital for the energy security in EU and therefore the project was continuously included in the list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI) issued by the European Commission since 2013. The project realization is co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility of the EU.
