The nearing completion of the pipeline, a major energy infrastructure project that is primarily designed to supply the Ostrołęka Power Plant in the north-east of Poland, signifies a significant shift towards enhancing regional energy security, officials said.
Energa said the latest tests mark a crucial step before the pipeline's integration with the Gas Interconnection Poland-Lithuania (GIPL), a transborder project connecting the gas transmission systems of Poland and Lithuania.
The nearly 28-kilometer pipeline, whose construction commenced in early 2023, is on track to become operational by mid-2024.
This schedule includes essential administrative decisions, technical inspections, and a planned two-week process for gasifying the pipeline starting in mid-February.
A notable aspect of the project is the construction of the Ostrołęka Power Plant, which has reached about 54-percent completion. The plant is a key element in the strategy of Energa, part of the Orlen group.
The new facility is expected to significantly bolster the reliability of energy supply in Poland's ongoing transition from largely coal-based power generation.
This development is of particular importance considering the ongoing geopolitical tensions, especially Russia's war on Ukraine, according to officials. It highlights the urgent need for both energy independence and sustainable development in the region, they said.
The Polish-Lithuanian GIPL gas link was launched earlier this year to provide an alternative supply route after Russia halted deliveries, according to reports at the time.
Ultimately, the 508-kilometre GIPL pipeline will have the capacity to carry 2 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually from Lithuania to Poland and 2.5 billion cubic metres the other way, Polish state news agency PAP has reported.
(rt/gs)
Source: biznesalert.pl, wnp.pl, energa.pl