The parties anticipate that the project will be completed in 2020 / hyser.com.ua
Ukrtransgaz, Ukraine’s state-owned operator of the gas transportation system (GTS) and Polish-based Gaz-System, one of the gas suppliers to Ukraine, have completed a feasibility study for the integration of gas transportation systems of the two countries, which will increase the supply of gas to Ukraine through Poland.
It is about a construction of a so-called gas interconnector, according to the press service of Ukrtransgaz. This includes the construction of a 1.5 km-long gas pipeline from Germanovichi to the Polish-Ukrainian border and a 110 km-long part of a pipeline from Bilche-Volytsya to the Ukrainian-Polish border.
"In addition, a compressor station in Strahchocina will be built in Poland, a measuring station, and stretches of pipeline: Germanovichi - Strachocina, Strachocina - Pogorskaia Wolia, Pogorskaia Wolia – Tworzen, and Tworow – Tworzen,” as reported in Ukrtransgaz. “The parties expect the project be completed by 2020."
As stressed in Ukrtransgaz, the integration of the Ukrainian and Polish GTSs will not only increase the volume of gas flow, but also ensure the storage of the European gas in the Ukrainian underground storage facilities.
As expected, both GTSs will also be upgraded in order to increase their capacity in the direction of Ukraine to 21.9 mcm per day, which is about 8 bcm per year; and from Ukraine to Poland - to 19.2 mcm daily, which is nearly 7 bcm annually.
Read alsoHistoric deal: Poland to help Baltic States to get rid of Russian gas dependenceThe existing capacity does not exceed 1.5 bcm per year, according to Ukrtransgaz.
"The increase in capacity will form the transport corridor, facilitating the integration of gas markets in Poland, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, and increasing the interaction between the EU states and the countries - participants of the Energy Community," Ukrtransgaz noted.
In addition, the combined GTSs will be part of another gas corridor linking the LNG-terminal in Swinoujscie with the countries of Central and Western Europe.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine has been importing natural gas from all active directions - from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Russia, from October 13, ahead of the 2015-2016 heating season.
According to Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Ukraine has to pile up 19 bcm of natural gas in its USFs ahead of the heating season and in order to ensure unhindered transit of Russian gas to the EU.