Polish-Czech Interconnector Launched

The respective Prime Ministers of Poland and the Czech Republic formally inaugurated a natural-gas pipeline connecting the two nations today.

"The Polish-Czech interconnector is a sign of the hope that gas problems will not afflict the two countries any more," Polish PM Donald Tusk said, referencing gas crises that have impacted the two countries previously.

The Polish-Czech interconnector makes a big contribution to energy safety of the two countries, Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas said.

"Today's opening means not only a gas connection between Poland and the Czech Republic but also a connection as part of a broader project, namely the north-south corridor," Necas said.

The 32-km gas pipeline, a project of Polish gas pipeline operator Gaz System and Czech company Net4Gas, was completed ahead of schedule.

Poland's gas monopoly PGNiG, a unit of German gas company VNG and a subsidiary of CP Energia signed deals in 2009 to deliver gas through the 0.5 billion cubic metre per year gas link.

A link with Germany is scheduled to be operational later this year, with further connections to Slovakia and Lithuania scheduled for 2018.

For Poland, the interconnector is part of a wider process towards integrating its gas pipeline network with its neighbours as a part of a EU-wide strategy to bring together energy markets.

The new interconnector also forms an important part of Poland’s north-south gas corridor, a planned expansion of gas pipelines and interconnectors linking Poland's LNG terminal in the Baltic port of Swinoujscie with the planned Adria LNG terminal in Croatia.