EU Confirms Cash for Four Polish Pipelines

The European Union has confirmed financial assistance for the construction of four gas pipelines in Poland.

Krakow's Oil and Gas Institute, acting as implementing institution, co-signed the final agreements for EU support. The pipelines are: the Szczecin-Gdańsk Pipeline (265 km), Szczecin-Lwówek Pipeline (188 km), Rembelszczyzna-Gustorzyn Pipeline (176 km) and the Gustorzyn-Odolanów Pipeline (168 km).

The documents were signed as a result of increased funding for pipelines built by Gaz-System SA. This was due to the securing of additional funds under the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment (OPI&E), and to savings made following the award of tenders for projects.

The total amount financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for these projects has increased from Polish zlotys 774 million (€189m) to PLN 1,016 million.

In September this year, the Ministry of Regional Development published an updated List of Individual Projects for the Programme Infrastructure and Environment in the energy, culture, health and higher education sectors. As a result, the four strategic investments implemented by Gaz-System have been awarded an increased level of funding. An additional reserve project was also accepted and is currently in preparation.

Jan Chadam, president of Gaz-System, said: "With EU support, we can expand the gas pipeline system in Poland and increase the energy security of both our country and the entire region."