The European Union’s Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA), Polish operator Gaz-System and its Slovak counterpart Eustream have signed an agreement to construct a new gas pipeline connecting Poland and Slovakia.

The new 165 kilometre pipeline will allow for the diversification of the CEE region’s gas sources by completing a missing link between the Polish and Slovak gas transmission systems: both Poland and Slovakia will now gain direct access to a variety of gas supply sources in the north and in the south, such as the planned Eastring pipeline linking the Balkans.

“With the completion of the Baltic Pipe project – in 2022 – Poland will gain new import opportunities,” said Piotr Naimski, the Polish government’s delegate for strategic energy. “This is an important element in strengthening the energy security of our country and the whole of Central and Eastern Europe.”

“This is another milestone on the way to the creation of a north-south gas corridor,” commented the Polish Deputy Minister of Energy Michał Kurtyka.

“Together with the planned expansion of the internal transmission system in Poland and the development of connections in Central and Eastern Europe, this project will help to create a strong and stable regional market, with security based on diversified sources of gas. It is also important from a strategic point of view for the common interests of the Visegrad Group and Trójmorza initiatives,” he said.

According to the Polish Ministry of Energy the investment will bring a number of benefits, both for the internal market in both countries, but also in a regional context. In fact, ensuring the security of gas supply for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe will increase the safety of gas in the region.

The EU will provide 107.7 million euros to finance the project.

“The financial support received via CEF funding underlines the important role the Poland-Slovakia Gas Interconnection has in fulfilling the European Union’s energy policy objectives” said Tomasz Stępień, president of the management board at Gaz-System.