Cleaner air for Kraków and greater energy security for the region. Małopolska has gained a new natural gas transmission pipeline
The construction of the Wężerów - Przewóz gas pipeline has been completed. This GAZ-SYSTEM investment project will enhance the stability of natural gas supply and create conditions for further advancement of low-carbon heat and power generation in the Kraków metropolitan area. The construction of this transmission infrastructure required the completion of 46 trenchless crossings with a total length of almost 4 km. Along the route, 48 archaeological sites containing remains of settlements specific to this region were identified.
Project benefits- Energy security comes from modern infrastructure and the Wężerów - Przewóz gas pipeline is the prime example. It is a project of high technical complexity, requiring the application of advanced technologies under conditions demanding both high-level engineering precision and utmost respect for the region’s archaeological heritage. The result is clear: increased reliability of gas supply to Kraków and the Małopolska region, new opportunities for entrepreneurial development, and a strong incentive for the energy transition and economic growth of the entire region – emphasised Dariusz Bogdan, Member of GAZ-SYSTEM Management Board.
The newly constructed gas pipeline, with a total length of 45 km and a diameter of up to 700 mm, passes through the municipalities of Słomniki, Radziemice, Kocmyrzów-Luborzyca and Koniusza, as well as Kraków (the districts of Nowa Huta and Podgórze). The investment project significantly increases the availability of natural gas in the Małopolska Province, thereby strengthening the region’s energy security.
The new infrastructure creates conditions for increasing the capacity to supply gas to our present industrial customers and connecting new ones to the network. In particular, the new pipeline will supply natural gas necessary for the operation of the combined-cycle units at the Kraków Combined Heat and Power Plant, supporting further development of modern, low-carbon sources for the generation of electricity and heat.
A key aspect of this investment project is connecting the new gas pipeline to the North-South Corridor transmission trunkline. This solution enables bidirectional supply to the network, thus increasing the reliability and continuity of gas supply to customers.
Technical aspects of the construction process
The design documentation for the Wężerów–Przewóz gas pipeline was prepared by the GAZ-SYSTEM's engineering office. The section passing through Nowa Huta district required particular spatial planning efforts, as this area is home to numerous industrial, road and rail infrastructure, with rapidly growing residential development. The pipeline route devised has made it possible to reconcile the city’s development plans with the most stringent technical and safety standards.
One of the most technically demanding sections on the route was the Przewóz area in Kraków’s Podgórze district. The location of two gas facilities and the construction of two trenchless crossings under the Vistula River within a relatively small but densely-populated area presented a major technical, organisational and logistical challenge. Another constraint was posed by the proximity of the existing gas pipelines, which were ultimately connected to the new infrastructure in the final phase. At the points where the gas pipeline crossed railway and road infrastructure, as well as watercourses, 46 trenchless crossings, with a total length of approx. 3.9 km, were completed. These included two HDD crossings under the Vistula River – one 1,087 m long for the DN 700 gas pipeline and one 634 m long for the DN 500 gas pipeline.
At every project implementation stage, GAZ-SYSTEM engaged in public information campaigns and organised consultations with the residents of the municipalities where the gas pipeline was being built. At these meetings, our company presented the design and implementation assumptions as well as matters relating to compensations. Ongoing cooperation with the local authorities and the local community was instrumental to the timely completion of the gas pipeline.
Archaeological discoveries
The project also yielded exceptional archaeological discoveries, providing a valuable insight into the history of the Małopolska region. At several sites along the gas pipeline route, evidence of settlement dating back to the Early Neolithic period and onwards to the modern era was uncovered.
At the 48 archaeological sites, covering a total area of over 1,000 acres, archaeologists uncovered, amongst others, food storage pits, hearths, remains of dwellings, skeletal burial sites and fragments of ancient fortifications. All works were carried out under the supervision of the conservator of monuments and in collaboration with archaeological teams. This made it possible both to efficiently proceed with the project and to preserve invaluable historical artefacts.
Financial support from the European Union
GAZ-SYSTEM secured funding of over PLN 100 million for the construction of the Wężerów–Przewóz gas pipeline under the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate and Environment 2021–2027 programme.
