Slovakia is hoping to boost energy security via a new gas pipeline linking the country with Poland.
“We will have another possible source of gas supplies if, for example, there is no transit of gas through Ukraine,” said Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini at a ceremony to mark the beginning of construction.
“The capacity of this connection on the Polish side will allow us to cover the year-round consumption of gas in Slovakia,” he added.
The bi-directional gas pipeline will connect the compressor station in the Great Capuchins and the Polish gas hub in Strachocine. The total length of the interconnection is more than 160 kilometres (km), of which 103 km is on Slovak territory.
“The schedule of the project assumes that the gas pipeline should be in operation in 2021,” said Rastislav Nykovic, general manager of Eustream, the biggest Slovak gas transmitter.
The total estimated cost for the Slovak side is 142 million euros. The project received a European Union grant of 55 million euros and a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) of 70 million euros.
