On June 1, representatives of Polskie LNG S.A. and construction consortium signed a document accepting operation of the facility in Świnoujście to off-take, regasify liquefied natural gas and supply it to the Polish distribution network. The annual dispatch capacity of 5 bn. m3 will cover over 30% of the current annual national demand.

 

The LNG installation had to undergo a series of tests before operational acceptance was granted. In the meantime future employees of the terminal were trained in the areas of operational standards, operation of the facilities and the complicated technological processes involved in the operation of the terminal.

 

We expect commercial supply of liquefied natural gas to Poland to commence before long. This is why acceptance and commissioning of the LNG terminal is so crucial for the completion of the investment which is of strategic importance for the Polish economy, simply because it ensures actual diversification of natural gas supply sources and thus significantly increases the national energy safety, explains Artur Zawartko, deputy chairman of Gaz-System S.A.

 

The contractor in charge of the construction was the subsidiary Polskie LNG S.A. owned by GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. The LNG terminal in Świnoujście consists of a 3-km long breakwater, a wharf with mooring facilities capable of unloading LNG carriers carrying from 120,000 m3 to about 217,000 m3 of LNG (Q-flex), two cryogenic LNG tanks (each with a capacity of ca. 160,000 m3), LNG regasification installation and an 85 km-long Świnoujście - Szczecin LNG pipeline connecting the terminal to the national distribution system. The LNG terminal in Świnoujście is the largest facility of this type in North, Central and Eastern Europe.

 

Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo is part of the natural gas supply project under a contract with Polskie LNG. Pursuant to a 20-year contract, natural gas will be provided by Qatargas Operating Company Limited. Every year Qatari LNG carriers will carry a million tonnes of natural gas to Świnoujście.

 

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