– Over the next years, the Company’s priority will focus on diversification of directions and sources of gas delivery, to be reached through construction of new cross-border connections with e.g. Lithuania, Slovakia or Denmark – stated Tomasz Stępień, CEO of Gaz-System on September 20, 2018 during the 4th Energy Congress held in Wrocław.
Throughout the event Tomasz Stępień, CEO of Gaz-System, and Saulius Bilys, CEO of Amber Grid, were honored with the prize of DISE Foundation – „The Personality of Energy 2018”. The prize was awarded for taking an investment decision relating to construction of the Poland-Lithuania gas pipeline (GIPL). When receiving the statue, Mr. Stępień, pointed out that building of the interconnector is ultimately important for integration of the European gas system.
– This connection, considered one of the most crucial gas-oriented European projects, is an opportunity to interrupt the current isolation of the Baltic states from the European gas market. It will allow for integrating Poland and Lithuania with the EU gas market, that we intend to build up jointly – he said.
In addition, Tomasz Stępień, CEO of Gaz-System, joined a debate on “The gas market in the world – the impact of global LNG supply on the European gas market”, where he underlined that the Company’s plans provide for over 2000 km of gas pipelines in western, southern and eastern Poland, to be constructed until 2025.
– An extension of the national transmission network, including setting up of new gas pipelines within the North-South Corridor as well as integration with national transmission networks of the neighboring states through interconnectors with Lithuania, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Ukraine, will constitute an essential contribution to the development of the European transmission system – he added.
Mr. Stępień stressed that over the next few years, the execution of Baltic Pipe – a strategic infrastructural project, aimed at establishing a new corridor of natural gas deliveries from Norway into the Danish and Polish markets, and to the Clients based in border countries – will be a crucial target.
– Such investments as construction of the Baltic Pipe and development of LNG Terminal in Świnoujście will result in diversification of gas sources and redirection of transmission of this very material from east-west axis towards north-south one. It will contribute to strengthening energy independence of our state and achieving better prices – he announced.
He also remarked that building of a fully functional transmission system, integrated with gas systems of the neighboring states will allow for establishing an infrastructural base for a long-term development and running a competitive gas market in Poland.
– Development of the infrastructure will affect positively expansion and operation of the gas exchange and market mechanisms, enabling to obtain gas in compliance with the principles of competition. All investments will also contribute to the increase of Poland’s energy security – he summed up.
Gaz-System