The Importance of Gas Interconnection Poland–Lithuania Project Reaffirmed by the Market Participants
The Gas Interconnection Poland – Lithuania (GIPL) project promoters, the Polish and Lithuanian gas transmission system operators, GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. and AB Amber Grid, have conducted the important milestone of the GIPL project implementation – the Non-Binding phase of the Open Season procedure. The results achieved at this stage are estimated positively by the project promoters. Market participants – mainly Polish and Lithuanian natural gas supply companies – have indicated the active interest in the natural gas transmission services on contractual point GIPL. Other stakeholders have responded expressing their support for the project which will create additional benefits for the gas market participants in the Baltic region.
The Polish and Lithuanian gas transmission system operators will take into account above mentioned results when taking decisions on the optimal financing structure of the GIPL.
The GIPL project aims at the integration of the Baltic region gas markets into a single EU gas market, at the diversification of gas supply sources and at the enhancement of the security of gas supplies.
AB Amber Grid is the operator of Lithuanian natural gas transmission system and is in charge of transmission of natural gas (transportation of natural gas through high pressure pipelines) to system users and operation, maintenance and development of natural gas transmission system.
The gas system operated by AB Amber Grid is comprised of high-pressure gas pipelines (2000 km), 2 gas compressor stations, 2 cross-border gas metering stations and 67 domestic exit points, cathodic protection installations (protecting gas pipelines from corrosion), as well as data transmission and telecommunications systems. Customers of AB Amber Grid are large companies (power plants, district heating plants and industrial companies) as well as medium sized companies operating in Lithuania and gas supply companies to which AB Amber Grid renders natural gas transmission services. The company is also engaged in natural gas transit to the Kaliningrad Region of the Russian Federation. Employees of AB Amber Grid have long-term experience in the field of gas system operation and maintenance and the necessary management skills and qualifications.
Since 10 April 2015, the AB Amber Grid obtained with an open-ended Transmission System Operator’s license and was certified as the Transmission System Operator. The Company alongside with other transmission system operators (TSOs) of East Baltic region countries (Latvia, Estonia, Finland) cooperate on regional market development issues: an East Baltic TSOs coordination group was established; also underway is a study on regional market development alternatives.
Gas Transmission Operator GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. is a company of strategic importance for the Polish economy, responsible for the transmission of natural gas and the management of the main transmission grid in Poland. Between 2009 and 2015 GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. implemented an investment plan covering the construction of more than 1200 km of new gas transmission pipelines. The most significant projects of this kind were completed in North-West and Central Poland. The expansion of the gas pipeline network is perceived as a major step in the development of the North-South Gas Corridor integrating the natural gas markets in Central Europe. The projects already completed by GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. and the virtual reverse flow services for the Yamal pipeline have led to a significant improvement of Poland’s energy security by enhancing the technical import capabilities from directions other than eastern of up to 90% of performed imports (before 2011 it was 9%).
The Company manages over 10 300 km of high pressure pipelines, 14 compressor stations, 57 nodes and almost 1000 exit points. There are over 2500 people employed at GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. The Company’s assets are worth over 8 bln PLN (ca. 1.9 bln EUR).
GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. is also the owner of the Polskie LNG S.A. company, which was established to construct the liquefied natural gas terminal (LNG) in Świnoujście.
