EMEA News
Polish LNG Terminal Delayed for Second Time
The construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Poland has been delayed for a second time and is now not expected to be finished before 2015, the Warsaw Business Journal reports.
The terminal, in the city of Świnoujście in northern Poland, was originally set for completion in June of 2014, but the project had already been pushed back until the end of 2014.
Polish officials have not yet officially acknowledged the delay, but Treasury Minister Włodzimierz Karpiński is expected to announce it soon.
"An unrealistic schedule can hurt every investment," said Ministry spokesperson Magdalena Kobos.
"If it is modified, related investments and contracts may be secured."
Polish gas company PGNiG is under contract with Qatargas to start receiving LNG deliveries next year, with 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas set to be delivered annually.
Absent the terminal in Poland, the deliveries might need to be moved to the Netherlands or Belgium, or the contract could be renegotiated to have them start later.
Construction of the facility, which will have a capacity of 5 billion cbm per year, began in 2011.
The European Investment Bank reportedly provided PLN600 million ($174.2 million) for terminal to support greater energy independence in Central and Eastern Europe.
