Net4Gas Drops Plans for Polish, Austrian Gas Links

Czech gas pipeline operator Net4Gas has dropped plans for the Stork II gas pipeline between the Czech Republic and Poland, and the Czech-Polish Baci gas link, possibly in favour of smaller interconnector projects, according to its 2021-2030 investment plan published on July 13.

Instead of Stork II, which had been scheduled to start up in 2023, Net4Gas may invest in a smaller interconnector with Poland coming on stream in 2027 or 2028. Meanwhile Baci, which was expected to begin flowing gas in 2024, may be replaced by a smaller project commencing in 2026.

Net4Gas told Reuters that the projects had been shelved because they did not make it into the EU's projects of common interest list, eligible for EU grants and regulatory support. What gas links are built in their stead will depend on the results of capacity auctions in 2021.

"The current 10-year plan does not expect the Baci and Stork II projects in their earlier planned form, mainly because they are not at the moment included in the European list of projects of common interest," Net4Gas told the news agency.

The EU did provide grants to fund studies on the pipelines, however.

Net4Gas operates more than 3,800 km of pipelines in the Czech Republic, as well as interconnection points with Germany, Poland and Slovakia. It primarily flows Russian gas, mostly coming from the Nord Stream pipeline that makes landfall in northern Germany.