BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 3. In 2022 alone, projects of common interest (PCIs) of EU with a total additional gas transmission capacity of 20 bcm/year have been or will be commissioned, e.g. the gas interconnector between Poland and Lithuania (the GIPL pipeline), the Poland-Slovakia interconnector, the Baltic Pipe between Poland and Denmark, the Greece-Bulgaria pipeline (IGB), Trend reports referring to the Council of the European Union.
Reportedly, LNG terminals in Cyprus (2 bcm/year) and Alexandroupolis Greece (5 bcm/year) are due to be operational in 2023.
Moreover, several gas PCIs are expected to be completed in the coming years which include several storage projects in South Eastern Europe (Greece, Romania, Bulgaria) as well the LNG terminal in Gdansk in Poland (at least 6 bcm/year).
It is thanks to these projects, many of which have benefitted from financial support through the Connecting Europe Facility, that Member States are able to react to recent supply cuts in a spirit of solidarity. In addition to significant improvements in the European gas infrastructure, key electricity interconnectors have been kick started also through CEF grant for works, e.g. the Biscay Bay electricity interconnector between France and Spain to increase the interconnection capacity with the Iberian Peninsula, the Celtic interconnector between France and Ireland and the EuroAsia interconnector between Greece and Cyprus which both will end the isolation from the Union’s electricity grid of Ireland and Cyprus respectively supporting the integration of renewable energy sources and enhancing security of supply. Moreover, the synchronisation of the electricity grids of the Baltic States, the last Member States having electricity systems still dependant on third countries, is well underway for completion at the latest by 2025. Support under the TEN-E policy as well as financially, under CEF for over EUR 1.2 billion, have been essential to set the project on track,” said the Council of the European Union.
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