About the gas sector at the EEC in Katowice: Diversification in deliveries of gas sources is an opportunity to boost the gas market in Poland and within the region
The development of trade cooperation within the LNG market between the states of Central and Eastern Europe and the US and its influence upon the energy security of Poland and the region have been the main topics discussed over the panel “Gas in the US and Europe”, held during the European Economic Congress in Katowice. The debate, that took place on May 15, 2018, was attended by Piotr Naimski, the State Secretary in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Government Representative for Strategic Energy Infrastructure and Paweł Jakubowski, CEO of Polskie LNG, belonging to GAZ-SYSTEM capital group.
Paweł Jakubowski, CEO of PLNG, owner of the President Lech Kaczyński LNG Terminal in Świnoujście, emphasized that the liquid natural gas is one of the most promising fuels and the global market dealing with this particular material reports a dynamic growth. He noticed that it creates new expansion perspectives for gas markets in the region of Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland as well.
The Head of PLNG pointed out that, owing to the extension of the Świnoujście terminal, our country will be provided with additional potential in terms of reception and transmission of gas. He reminded that this investment was meant to: expanding SCV vaporizers with subsequent units, constructing the second quay and establishing the third LNG tank as well as building the rail siding along with the handling infrastructure.
Mr. Jakubowski highlighted that the extension of the terminal will rise flexibility of gas supplies, since it will allow for delivering the products to the spots, featuring an underdeveloped transmission and distribution network.
– Extension of the LNG Terminal in Świnoujście and construction of the Baltic Pipe gas connection are considered crucial investments, contributing to the Poland’s energy security. They will provide our economy with new delivery sources of natural gas and result in the rise of market competitiveness in our country – said Paweł Jakubowski, CEO of Polskie LNG, a member of GAZ-SYSTEM capital group.
Furthermore, Jakubowski added that extension of the terminal in Świnoujście will enable to transport the raw material to smaller terminals operating within the Baltic Sea. He remarked that thanks to establishing of new infrastructural connections, Poland will become an important transmission state, open to gas suppliers, not only from the European Union, but from the entire world.
The participants of the „Gas in the US and Europe” panel, conducted during the European Economic Congress held in Katowice, also discussed how augmented opportunities in the area of diversification of gas deliveries will change the European gas market.
Piotr Naimski, Government Representative for Strategic Energy Infrastructure underlined that gaining an independence from a dominant supplier may cause the risk of gas limitations or shutdowns, or result in occurrence of non-market prices. According to him, only competitiveness based on diversification of gas deliveries will avoid a monopoly of a single provider.
– A strategic objective of the government is to ensure deliveries from the gas sources that are alternative to the Russian one. The Baltic Pipe project will bring a strategic transmission retargeting, altering the direction from the East-West axis into the North-South one. A planned extension of an existing LNG Terminal in Świnoujście will provide extra benefits in the field of diversification of delivery sources. Owing to these investments, no later than in 2022, the infrastructure will be ready to convey gas from directions, differing from that, which is currently a dominant one – said Piotr Naimski, the State Secretary in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Government Representative for Strategic Energy Infrastructure.
Mr. Naimski highlighted that the North Gate concept is meant to provide, through implementing of these particular investment, a free choice of the source and supplier of gas. The minister stressed that, thanks to establishing of the LNG terminal, our country may receive the material from any producer and, once the Baltic Pipe has been launched, Poland will be able to import 17 billion cubic meters of gas out of Russia, equaling to the present annual consumption. In opinion of Mr. Naimski, gas gained from the US will be significant in terms of diversification of gas deliveries to Poland.
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In March 2018, Polskie LNG signed memorandums of understanding with US gas operators. These commitments aimed at sharing of expertise and good practices, covering, among other things, development of gas distribution technologies. This is another essential element of the Polish-American collaboration in the field of maintenance and development of the gas sector.
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European Economic Congress (EEC), based in Katowice, is a 3-day cycle of debates, meetings and associating events, attended by over 9 thousand guests from Poland, Europe and the world. This year it has been the 10th edition, held on May 14-16.
Roughly 150 sessions gather several hundred panelists, including EU Commissioners, Prime Ministers and representatives of governments from the European countries, CEOs of top companies, scientists, practitioners and experts, who have a real influence upon the economic and social life.
Opinion forming groups hold talks in the form of an open public debate, raising issues considered the most considerable to the Europe’s development. European Economic Congress has been recognized as the forum of one of the most representative discussions about the future of Europe.
To see more info on European Economic Congress: www.eecpoland.eu
Fot. GAZ-SYSTEM. Od lewej: Shawn Bennett, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy for Oil and Gas, U.S. Department of Energy; Fred Hutchison, LNG Allies - prezes, Departament Stanu USA; Paweł Jakubowski, prezes PLNG; Piotr Naimski, Kancelaria Prezesa Rady Ministrów - pełnomocnik rządu ds. strategicznej infrastruktury energetycznej, sekretarz stanu; Rafael Świąder, PGNiG SA - zastępca dyrektora, Oddział Obrotu Hurtowego, dyrektor, Departament Zarządzania Portfelem; Michał Baranowski, The German Marshall Fund of the United States - dyrektor biura, oddział w Warszawie.
Fot. GAZ-SYSTEM. Europejski Kongres Gospodarczy 2018
