Projects with a value of more than $US60 million supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund are mandatorily subject to additional verification and approval at the European Commission level.
The high-pressure gas pipeline between Szczecin and Gdansk is the first energy project in Poland to receive a positive assessment from the European Commission.
The decision also means that the project meets a number of environmental, material and financial conditions.
Deputy Minister of Regional Devleopment Adam Zdzieblo said that the European Commission had also granted support from the Infrastructure and Environment Program (OPI&E) to the underground gas storage facility Kosakowo, with financial support to both projects totalling almost $US100 million.
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“The project being implemented by GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. will be the longest gas pipeline supported under the OPI&E,” he said.
“Thanks to the implementation of this project, 265 km of gas transmission infrastructure will be built.”
President of the GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. management board Jan Chadam said that GAZ-SYSTEM’s project is on the list of individual projects under OPI&E 2007-2013 due to its strategic nature.
It is also being covered by the monitoring of the state of preparedness and received consulting support under JASPERS, an initiative of European institutions, he said.
GAZ-SYSTEM’s pipeline is one of the company’s biggest investment projects related to the Swinoujscie LNG terminal, which is currently under construction, with the total cost estimated at more than $US270 million.
Construction of the pipeline is being co-funded by the European Investment Bank, with the project supported by the European Union under the OPE&I to the tune of approximately $US67 million.
GAZ-SYSTEM said that the gas project will be very important to the region as a whole, in particular to Zachodniopomorskie, Pomorskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie and Wielkopolskie Voivodeships, because it will ensure gas supplies that meet the needs of these areas.
The project is being implemented in four stages – Płoty-Karlino, Karlino-Koszalin, Koszalin-Słupsk and Słupsk-Wiczlino – with the completion of construction and launching of the pipeline expected in fourth quarter 2013.
The project is currently in the first phase of construction work, following the completion of all tenders for works and delivery of materials.
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