15.07.2010
Eustream and FGSZ evaluating Open Season for the gas interconnection between Slovakia and Hungary
Bratislava – Adjacent gas transmission system operators eustream, a.s. (Eustream) and Hungarian company FGSZ Zrt. (FGSZ) have closed the binding phase of the Open Season and evaluated binding bids for the planned gas interconnector between the Slovak Republic and Hungary.
Binding phase of the Open Season was another milestone of the project on the establishment of the new gas pipeline between Slovakia and Hungary.
In the binding phase of the Open Season, several applicants from six different countries have submitted their bids for period of 5 - 20 years. Binding bids cover aggregated transmission capacity of roughly 20 bcm for the whole period for the flow from Slovakia to Hungary. The peak reserved capacity amounts to 6.8 mcm per day, while maximum market interest was recorded for the period starting in 2015 (for details please see the detailed graph). There was no interest in flow from Hungary to Slovakia for the time being, however, the pipeline interconnection still can serve for bidirectional transmission of gas.
“The binding phase confirmed sufficient interest in transmission of natural gas through planned interconnection at the Slovak section of the pipeline. We are ready to take the investment decision and to start with implementation of the project even though in the first stage of the operation the interconnector will only work in one direction from Slovakia to Hungary.”, said Chairman of the Board of Directors of Eustream, Antoine Jourdain. Tariffs for access to the transmission network and gas transmission in the Slovak section of the interconnector were approved by the national regulatory authority ÚRSO (Regulatory Office for Network Industries) at the end of June 2010.
FGSZ declared the results of binding Open Season as unsuccessful for the Hungarian part of the planned interconnection. Nevertheless, FGSZ Ltd. will analyse further alternatives to have the SK-HU Interconnector project potentially financed and constructed in another way.
All News