Construction of Slovak-Polish gas pipeline link launched

The construction of a gas pipeline link between Slovakia and Poland was ceremonially launched at the gas transport hub in Veľké Kapušany (Košice region) on Tuesday. Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, who attended the event, was praising the project as an important contribution to Slovakia's energy security. The Slovak-Polish pipeline link, scheduled to be put into operation in 2021, should be 160-kilometres long, of which 103 kilometres will be in Slovakia. The overall cost for Slovakia should be €142 million, while the project has received a grant from the EU amounting to €55 million and a loan of €70 million from the European Investment Bank. "We'll have another reserve resource of gas supplies if, God forbid, gas transit via Ukraine is halted. This link to Poland will allow us to cover for Slovakia's annual gas consumption," said Pellegrini. The Veľké Kapušany -Strachocin link will in effect also connect Slovakia to the Baltic LNG terminal Swinoujscie, which has direct access to alternative resources of natural gas from many other parts of the world.