Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 15
By Aygun Badalova - Trend:
The first gas interconnector between Poland and Lithuania will end the long lasting isolation of the Baltic Sea region and bring the energy needed for a new economic dynamism to the region, the European Commission reported on its website on October 2015.
The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker welcomed today the signing of the grant agreement on the GIPL (Gas Interconnector Poland - Lithuania), the first pipeline connecting Poland and Lithuania.
Today's signature is also a breakthrough increasing the security of supply and bringing more resilience to the European energy market, the European Commission said.
The Commission said that today's signature will enable the promoters to start construction works with the aim of finalising the pipeline by December 2019.
A central element of the EU's Energy Union strategy is bridging missing links in the energy infrastructure, according to the European Commission's report.
"The solidarity shown by the participating member states shows how joining forces can make all parts of the European Union stronger and more resilient to potential shortages. The participating states are committed to work together also in the future to further reinforce the region's integration into the EU's internal energy market," it said.
The Commission has committed itself to creating links that allow energy to flow where it is most needed and to ensure that every member state has access to at least three sources for energy. Building missing cross-border links between the Baltic Sea region and the rest of the EU energy market is a priority for the Commission.
GIPL is the first gas interconnector between the Eastern Baltic Sea region and the Continental Europe. It is one of the energy infrastructure projects that benefits of the status of Project of Common European Interest.
The gas pipeline will stretch some 357 km in Poland and 177 km in Lithuania. It will be capable of delivering 2.4 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Poland to Lithuania, and 1 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Lithuania to Poland.
Its total cost is 558 million euros which will be funded by the Baltic States and private investment alongside the Commission's contribution, made under the Connecting Europe Facility.