A 167.6 km-long natural gas pipeline, around 1 m in diameter, running between the towns of Lwówek and Odolanów in Poland’s Wielkopolskie region is being built with EU support. The work also includes the establishment of interconnections with other gas pipelines in both Lwówek and Odolanów, as well as in the town of Krobia and the village of Kotowo. In addition, ancillary infrastructure is to be constructed.
- 02 October 2017
The Lwówek to Odolanów pipeline forms part of the north-south corridor which is a component of the 2015 ten-year network development plan of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG). It is an essential element in the strengthening of gas interconnections in central-eastern and south-eastern Europe.
A main objective of the construction of the pipeline is to ensure security of gas supply in Poland by helping to link the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Świnoujście with the existing gas transmission storage and distribution network.
Developing trans-European energy infrastructure
The EU has identified the pipeline as an important step in terms of the development of trans-European energy infrastructure. It is one of a number of projects which have been initiated in order to facilitate bidirectional gas flows between Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. These projects are also intended to establish connections between the Świnoujście terminal, which was installed in 2015, and the planned Adria LNG terminal on the Croatian island of Krk, which is expected to open in 2019.
More locally, the Lwówek-Odolanów pipeline is included in a cluster of initiatives which aim to upgrade gas infrastructure interconnections between Poland and the Czech Republic, as well as reinforcing related internal infrastructure in western Poland.
A total of over EUR 246 million is being spent on the project, of which approximately EUR 112.5 million is provided through EU financing. An important benefit of the pipeline is the increased potential it brings for Poland to export gas to countries including the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine.
Cooperation between national operators
Created in December 2009, ENTSOG works to strengthen cooperation between Europe’s national gas transmission system operators. This helps to ensure efficient management and coordinated operation of the European gas network, development of a pan-European transmission system, completion of the internal market for gas and stimulation of cross-border trade.
ENTSOG also looks to facilitate sound technical evolution of Europe’s gas transmission system. In relation to this, a ten year network development plan must be published every two years. The plan provides a picture of European gas infrastructure and future developments, and includes modelling of the integrated European gas network based on a range of scenarios.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Gas pipeline Lwówek - Odolanów” is EUR 246 374 640, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 112 519 355 through the “Infrastructure and Environment” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period.