ANOTHER IMPORTANT STAGE OF THE POLAND-SLOVAKIA INTERCONNECTOR
GAZ-SYSTEM has signed a key contract with Ferrum to manufacture and supply pipes, pipe arches, and fittings for the construction of the Poland-Slovakia gas pipeline. The value of the contract, which will be implemented until April 2020, is about 74 million Polish zlotys. T
he investment is an essential element of the regional North-South Gas Corridor.The interconnector with a total length of about 165 km will connect the Slovak gas compressor station in Veľké Kapušany with the new gas node in Strachocina. The gas pipeline will have a diameter of 1,000 mm and will allow the transmission of gas at a pressure of 8.4 MPa.
– The purchase of pipes and fittings is a critical element of the interconnector between Poland and Slovakia. The construction process started two months ago has been implemented as scheduled. GAZ-SYSTEM meets its commitments in a timely manner and consistently expands its transmission system to increase the availability of natural gas in our region” – said Artur Zawartko, Vice-President of GAZ-SYSTEM.
The purchased pipes are about 16.5 m long and their walls are 22.2 mm and 14.2 mm. The diameters of the supplied fittings range from 200 to 1,000 mm.
The Polish section of the gas pipeline, which is about 61 km long, crosses three municipalities, i.e. Sanok, Bukowsko, and Komańcza, predominantly agricultural and forest areas. It is an area of the San River Basin, the Foothills of Bukowsko, and the Low Beskid Mountains, built of soft sedimentary rocks. Its construction – despite harsh geological conditions – is performed to ensure that it interferes with the natural environment and the life of the inhabitants as little as possible. Moreover, monitoring equipment will be installed in landslide areas and potential landslide areas, allowing for constant control of possible ground movements.
GAZ-SYSTEM inaugurated the construction of the interconnection on 6 September this year in Bóbrka. The gas pipeline route is currently being prepared for the construction. So far, most of the works related to the demarcation of the construction zone and cleaning up the area have been completed. Work has also begun to distribute pipes and pipe arches. Seam welding has already started. In October, a contract was also signed for the construction of the Strachocina distribution and measurement station where the Polish-Slovakian gas pipeline will begin its run.
The investment is implemented by GAZ-SYSTEM in cooperation with the Slovak company Eustream.
The construction of gas connections between the Polish transmission system and the systems of neighbouring countries is a critical stage in the construction of a competitive gas market in this part of Europe.
The project was co-financed by EU funds under the TEN-E (Trans-European Energy Networks) and CEF (Connecting Europe Facility) programs. The support covered analytical, design and construction works carried out in Poland and Slovakia. The key project co-financing agreements were signed by GAZ-SYSTEM and EUSTREAM with the EU's Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) in 2015 (design works) and 2017 (construction works).
