Poland has announced plans to construct a second liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal to be completed by 2027.
The European Commission has approved support of €19.6 million for the terminal’s construction, and reports suggest both Czechia and possibly Slovakia are interested in using the terminal when built.
The FSRU (Floating Storage Regasification Unit) terminal will operate in Gdańsk Bay of the Baltic Sea.
In October, Warsaw and Prague agreed on constructing a new gas connector between Poland and Czechia named Stork III. It will have capacity for 1 billion cubic meters of gas in both directions and will enable Czechs to purchase gas from the new terminal in Gdańsk Bay.
Poland and Czechia sent a letter to the highest representatives of the European Commission supporting the new gas terminal, as well as connector, and requesting the funds that have since been approved.
The FSRU terminal planned capacity is 6.1 billion cubic meters of gas per year. For comparison, Poland used around 20 billion cubic meters gas per year prior to the crisis caused by Russia and Gazprom.
The Ukraine war and economic restrictions caused a reduction of gas consumption of around 2 billion cubic meters, Gaz-System S.A. pointed out in June. However, Poland’s consumption of gas should increase, due to the development of gas energy and the gasification of new regions.
The entire European Union reacted to Russian aggression with sanctions designed to impose energy pressure on the country. Gazprom’s policy was and continues to be aimed at causing deficits of LNG in Europe. In many cases, the Russian supplier broke existing agreements by ceasing the export of gas.
It cannot be ruled out that the project of constructing an LNG terminal in Gdańsk Bay will not be the only investment in the region. In May, Polish Climate Minister Anna Moskwa said that not only Czechia is interested in gas deliveries from Poland, Slovakia is as well.
If both countries required large volumes of LNG, Poland could lease the next FSRU. There are also discussions regarding acquisition of an FSU (Floating Storage Unit) that would supplement effective operation of one or more LNG terminals.
Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Gazprom’s policy of ceasing supplies to the EU prior to the heating season, European countries are now interested in LNG deliveries.
Poland already owns an LNG terminal in Świnoujście and wants to acquire a new FSRU terminal in the next few years. Realization of those plans could make Poland a gas hub for central Europe, although much will be determined by Czech and Slovak demand.
