The EU reached two agreements for two major gas infrastructure projects between Denmark and Poland and Poland and Lithuania, the European Commission (EC) announced on Friday.
On the sidelines of the Energy Infrastructure Forum taking place on May 24-25 in Copenhagen, Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete signed the grant agreement for studies for the gas interconnector between Denmark and Poland, the Baltic-Pipe, and the connection agreement (Final Investment Decision) for the gas interconnector between Poland and Lithuania (GIPL).
The two signature ceremonies also included Lars Christian Lilleholt, minister for energy, utilities and climate of Denmark, Egidijus Purlys, deputy minister of energy of the republic of Lithuania, Piotr Naimski, plenipotentiary of the government of the republic of Poland for strategic energy infrastructure, and Michał Kurtyka, deputy minister of energy of the republic of Poland.
The two gas interconnector projects hold the status of EU Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) and have received financial support under the Connecting Europe Facility program, to the tune of €33 million and €276 million, respectively, the EC noted.
'Both ventures are flagship projects of the EU and key to addressing the energy challenges facing the Eastern Baltic Sea Region and the Central-Eastern Europe,' the EC said.
The Baltic-Pipe is expected to enhance diversification of gas sources and increase competition, while GIPL is expected to help 'bring an end to the isolation of the gas system of the Baltic Sea region' and integrate it into the internal energy market, the EC explained.
By Ebru Sengul
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr