Gazprom, EuRoPol GAZ sign memorandum

Chief Executive Officer of Russia’s gas giant Gazprom Alexei Miller and EuRoPol GAZ Director General Miroslaw Dobrut have signed a memorandum of mutual understanding in the format of the Baltic Sea Forum in St. Petersburg, the Russian company said on Friday. The document envisages construction of the Yamal-Europe-2 gas pipeline via Poland towards Slovakia and Hungary with an annual throughput capacity at least 15 billion cubic metres of natural gas. The project’s feasibility study should be ready within six months. The gas pipeline will make it possible to raise transit capacities for gas supplies to Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, as well as to cut spending for gas transportation. In addition, the project will allow the partners to step up export of Russia’s gas to the countries of Central Europe. “The Yamal-Europe-2 project envisions construction of additional gas-transportation facilities in order to guarantee stable delivery of Russia’s gas to European consumers,” Miller said, adding, “The route will run via Poland. Besides, Polish partners will be involved in the active implementation of design and construction works.” The EuRoPol GAZ Transit Pipeline System JV was established in September 1993. The company was created in the format of the intergovernmental agreement “On construction of gas pipeline network for transit of Russia’s gas via Poland and gas supplies to Poland.” The document was signed on August 25, 1993. The EuRoPol GAZ company is mainly engaged in the design, construction and use of the Polish section of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline. EuRoPol GAZ is the owner of the 684-kilometre-long sector of the gas pipeline in the territory of Poland. Russia’s Gazprom and Poland’s PGNiG SA are the key shareholders of the joint venture.