Poland eyes to launch Baltic Pipe gas pipeline at full capacity

The Polish PGNiG state oil and gas company intends to use the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline, which is expected to be put into operation on October 1, 2022, at the full capacity planned for this year.

“PGNiG will fully use the capacity of the gas pipeline planned for this year. Gas supply for the 2022/2023 entire heating season has been also ensured. Therefore, the dissemination of information that the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline will be empty should be regarded as disinformation, the purpose of which is to cause anxiety and uncertainty among people,” Interfax reports referring to the company’s message.

PGNiG has recently concluded additional contracts to purchase gas from companies operating on the Norwegian continental shelf.

“As a result, the company has gas volumes for Baltic Pipe at a level that guarantees that, together with other sources of production (own production, LNG supplies and stockpiles), it will be able to fully meet the needs of its customers in Poland in the upcoming heating season,” the message says.

Moreover, the company is negotiating with Norwegian gas suppliers to optimise the use of Baltic Pipe's reserved capacity in the long term.

PGNiG and Norwegian Equinor announced on September 23 the signing of a contract for the supply of up to 2.4 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas from the Norwegian shelf from January 1, 2023 through January 1, 2033 both from the Troll gas field and from other suppliers.

"Contracts are based on commercial terms and the price of natural gas in Europe," the buyer said.

Equinor estimates the supply volume upon the new contract at around 15 per cent of ordinary gas consumption in Poland.

“As a result, the company has gas volumes for Baltic Pipe at a level that guarantees that, together with other sources of production (own production, LNG supplies and stockpiles), it will be able to fully meet the needs of its customers in Poland in the upcoming heating season,” the message says.

The Baltic Pipe gas pipeline connected the Polish and Danish gas transmission systems for gas supplies from Norway. It will be able to transport 10 bcm of natural gas per year to Poland and three bcm - from Poland to Denmark.