Świnoujście gas terminal officially opened
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
12.10.2015 13:14
PM Ewa Kopacz has opened the LNG hub in the northern Polish Baltic port city of Świnoujście, in a move which will significantly improve the energy independence of the country.
The LNG terminal in Świnoujście. Photo: polskielng.pl
“Today we can say that as much as 90 percent of our gas can be imported from other sources than the East, and next year, when we are in full swing, we will stand at 100 percent,” Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz said on Monday during the opening ceremony of the terminal.
The LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) terminal in Świnoujście has been in the works for several years, and the opening has been postponed a number of times.
It is meant to reduce Poland’s dependency on gas supplies from Russia, which delivers the lion’s share of gas consumed by Central and Eastern Europen countriues.
“This investment is not only the first but also the only such investment in this part of Europe,” Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz said.
The first gas tanker will dock in Świnoujście between late November and early December, with the terminal starting operation several months later. It will likely be fully operational in the second quarter of 2016.
Beata Szydło, the candidate for Prime Minister from the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, has voiced her criticism that the government took so long to open the terminal, saying it could have opened two years ago. Poland's general election will be held on 25 October. (rg/rk)