The construction of the LNG terminal will soon be launched
“Gazoport [fuel base] constitutes an element in a series of undertakings that are to support the energy security in Poland and in Europe as a whole” – said Donald Tusk during the ceremony. “This is called real diversity – a funny word, but it conveys well the security and real independence of a single gas supply source”.
The foundation stone was laid at the construction site in the exact spot where two liquefied gas containers are to be situated. The Foundation Act was signed by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Treasury, Zbigniew Rapciak, the President of Polish LNG and Tomasz Tomczak, the representative of the Saipem-Techint-PBG consortium contractor.
“This ceremony rounds up many months of meticulous preparations that often go unnoticed and thus are not appreciated enough” – says Zbigniew Rapciak. “Now we have got 1196 days of hard work ahead. The look of this construction site will change each day and finally, on 30 June 2014 we will accomplish our goal.”
LNG terminal is used for collection and degasification of liquefied natural gas. According to the schedule, LNG containers will be erected first and their foundations are being laid just now. This year reinforced concrete walls of the first container as well as an overpass to accommodate pipelines for transporting gas from ships are also to be erected. In 2012 the walls of the other container will be put up and steel internal walls will be built in both of them. The terminal will become operational on 30 June 2014.
After laying the foundation stone, the Maritime University in Szczecin hosted the ceremony of opening the LNG European Training Centre (ECSLNG). This project is jointly carried out by Polskie LNG S.A., Maritime University in Szczecin and AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow. It includes four state-of-the-art simulators that accurately reproduce the fuel base conditions.
The Maritime University has already launched post-graduate studies in the scope of LNG transport and terminal operations. In future, training courses of this kind will be offered to people working in various sectors of economy - in that way they will be able to gain qualifications for jobs that are not yet available in Poland. The LNG European Training Centre has been promoted at international conferences and attracted wide interest. Thus, its founders hope that LNG ETC Poland may become a breeding ground for specialists with world standard qualifications.
“I would like to point out the exquisite far-sightedness and cooperation skills of the businessmen and people of science who managed to foresee the approaching needs and succeeded in developing the LNG European Training Centre” – said Aleksander Grad. “Thanks to their vision and dedication, Szczecin can now boast of an institution equipped with modern equipment that will help prepare highly qualified specialists who will find employment with he LNG terminaland the ships handling liquefied gas deliveries. It is especially important for the future of our country and the technological developments that are bound to occur when the LNG terminal is ready.
