Energy security, i.e. undisturbed and secure energy supplies for industrial and individual customers, requires diversification of energy raw material supply sources, as well as expanded manufacturing and industrial infrastructure. In 2009, the government approved the document “Poland’s Energy Policy until 2030” listing necessary actions such as: construction of a gas port in Świnoujście, construction of at least two nuclear power stations, recreation of production capacities of coalmines, expansion of gas warehouses, modernization of transmission and manufacturing electrical energy infrastructure. Improved energy effectiveness and better deployment of renewable energy sources are crucial for the future of the power industry in Poland. New possibilities are connected with the schistose gas extraction on the territory of Poland.
Model of LNG terminal in Świnoujście capable of receiving 5 billion cubic metres of liquefied gas a year, more than one-third of Polish demand.Gas Port
In 2008, the government drew up a plan to build a new gas port in Świnoujście. The investment will make it possible for Poland to be supplied with gas via the sea, which will both diversify gas deliveries and enlarge them by 5 billion cubic meters at first, and 7.5 billion cubic meters at a later stage. One of the raw materials supplied to the gas port in Świnoujście will be LNG from Qatar. In 2009, the law on investments related to the regasification terminal of the liquefied natural gas in Świnoujście was passed. It allowed for the investment preparatory stage completion, i.e. the issuance of all the construction permits and environmental decisions, as well as the handing over of the construction site. The investment will be completed in 2014.
Nuclear Power Stations
In January 2009, the government began executing the nuclear power station construction program. Poland is one of the few European countries in which such power plants have not been erected so far. At least two plants are supposed to be built, the first one of which should become operational in 2020. In 2009, the government appointed a special plenipotentiary for nuclear power engineering, and prepared a detailed investment schedule along with a list of potential locations. In February 2011, the government passed the new nuclear law. The new law will provide clear and stable legal framework for the construction and operational capacity of nuclear power plants, ensuring the nuclear safety and radiological protection of Poland.During the next stage, the appropriate location will be selected and a contract for erecting the first power plant will be concluded. Advanced works are also underway in relation to the acquisition of modern technologies for building and equipping the power plants.
Deployment of Polish Energy Resources
The power industry in Poland is largely based on traditional raw materials. In 2010, the government transferred PLN 400 million to the hard coal mining industry in order to boost its production capacity. In 2012, the Lubiatow-Miedzychod-Grotow mine of natural gas and oil will be built. At the same time, year by year, renewable energy sources, such as: biomass, wind and water energy, are put to better use. In 2020, the share of these sources in the general gross energy balance of Poland will amount to 15%. For comparison: in 2007 this share amounted to 7.7%.
Schistose gas reserves have been discovered in Poland. According to estimations, there may be from 1.5 to 3 billion cubic meters of this raw material on the territory of the country. Its deployment may radically decrease Poland’s dependence on imported gas. The government has begun issuing licenses to Polish and foreign companies willing to search for the schistose gas. Test drillings have begun. They will help determine the commercial possibilities of using the reserves.
Construction of LNG terminal in Świnoujście. The investment will be completed in 2014. Gas Warehouse Expansion
Gas warehouses are indispensible for the energy security of Poland, as they are places in which the raw material may be kept and used in the event of disrupted deliveries from other sources. The reservoirs are being expanded in Wierzchowice, Moglin, Strachocin, Husow, and Kosakow. In 2009, a warehouse in Daszew was completed. In 2010, constuction of another reservoir in Bonikow was finished. By 2015, the total capacity of gas warehouses will rise from the present level of 1.66 billion cubic meters to more than 3 billion cubic meters.
Ensuring Energy Transport
At the same, the domestic system of gas transfer is being expanded. Transmission capacity will be increased in Lasow, on the border between Germany and Poland. A new gas link with the Czech Republic has begun to be constructed near Cieszyn, with works on the Polish side already completed. It will be the second, direct link of the Polish gas system with that of the European Union.
In August 2009, money was secured for constructing the Włocławek - Gdynia gas pipe, in May 2010 for the Jeleniów - Dziwiszów gas pipe. New gas pipes are being designed. The most important structures will be constructed in north-west, south-west and central Poland (Szczecin - Lwówek, Świnoujście - Szczecin, Szczecin - Gdańsk, Włocławek - Gdynia, Rembelszczyzna - Gustorzyn, Gustorzyn - Odolanów). Pursuant to the government’s plans, there will have been almost 1000 km of gas transmission networks by the end of 2015. Today, the transmission network is 9.7 thousand kilometers long.
Gas Contracts
Apart from domestic sources, energy supplies to Poland are guaranteed by long term, international agreements on the import of key raw materials. In June 2009, the government entered into an agreement with Qatar for the liquefied gas supplies. The agreement stipulating deliveries of 1.5 billion cubic meters of LNG a year will be binding from 2014 to 2034. Negotiations were finalized with Russia. The contract with this country is a guarantee of uninterrupted gas transmission to Poland until 2022. Energy safety of Poland is additionally guaranteed by gas supplies from the west.
Power Industry Outlays
The government has been systematically increasing outlays for projects ensuring energy diversification, as well as safe and uninterrupted gas supplies for industrial and individual customers. In 2009, outlays for the power industry amounted to PLN 8.3 billion. By way of comparison: in 2005 they totalled PLN 4.5 billion.
Energy investments are financed not only by the state budget. EUR 1.72 billion has been earmarked for the power industry in the Operational Program Infrastructure and Environment. In March 2009, during negotiations taking place at an EU summit in Brussels, the government acquired another net EUR 330 million for the execution of projects ensuring Poland’s energy security.
Model of LNG terminal in Świnoujście capable of receiving 5 billion cubic metres of liquefied gas a year, more than one-third of Polish demand.Gas PortIn 2008, the government drew up a plan to build a new gas port in Świnoujście. The investment will make it possible for Poland to be supplied with gas via the sea, which will both diversify gas deliveries and enlarge them by 5 billion cubic meters at first, and 7.5 billion cubic meters at a later stage. One of the raw materials supplied to the gas port in Świnoujście will be LNG from Qatar. In 2009, the law on investments related to the regasification terminal of the liquefied natural gas in Świnoujście was passed. It allowed for the investment preparatory stage completion, i.e. the issuance of all the construction permits and environmental decisions, as well as the handing over of the construction site. The investment will be completed in 2014.
Nuclear Power Stations
In January 2009, the government began executing the nuclear power station construction program. Poland is one of the few European countries in which such power plants have not been erected so far. At least two plants are supposed to be built, the first one of which should become operational in 2020. In 2009, the government appointed a special plenipotentiary for nuclear power engineering, and prepared a detailed investment schedule along with a list of potential locations. In February 2011, the government passed the new nuclear law. The new law will provide clear and stable legal framework for the construction and operational capacity of nuclear power plants, ensuring the nuclear safety and radiological protection of Poland.During the next stage, the appropriate location will be selected and a contract for erecting the first power plant will be concluded. Advanced works are also underway in relation to the acquisition of modern technologies for building and equipping the power plants.
Deployment of Polish Energy Resources
The power industry in Poland is largely based on traditional raw materials. In 2010, the government transferred PLN 400 million to the hard coal mining industry in order to boost its production capacity. In 2012, the Lubiatow-Miedzychod-Grotow mine of natural gas and oil will be built. At the same time, year by year, renewable energy sources, such as: biomass, wind and water energy, are put to better use. In 2020, the share of these sources in the general gross energy balance of Poland will amount to 15%. For comparison: in 2007 this share amounted to 7.7%.
Schistose gas reserves have been discovered in Poland. According to estimations, there may be from 1.5 to 3 billion cubic meters of this raw material on the territory of the country. Its deployment may radically decrease Poland’s dependence on imported gas. The government has begun issuing licenses to Polish and foreign companies willing to search for the schistose gas. Test drillings have begun. They will help determine the commercial possibilities of using the reserves.
Construction of LNG terminal in Świnoujście. The investment will be completed in 2014. Gas Warehouse ExpansionGas warehouses are indispensible for the energy security of Poland, as they are places in which the raw material may be kept and used in the event of disrupted deliveries from other sources. The reservoirs are being expanded in Wierzchowice, Moglin, Strachocin, Husow, and Kosakow. In 2009, a warehouse in Daszew was completed. In 2010, constuction of another reservoir in Bonikow was finished. By 2015, the total capacity of gas warehouses will rise from the present level of 1.66 billion cubic meters to more than 3 billion cubic meters.
Ensuring Energy Transport
At the same, the domestic system of gas transfer is being expanded. Transmission capacity will be increased in Lasow, on the border between Germany and Poland. A new gas link with the Czech Republic has begun to be constructed near Cieszyn, with works on the Polish side already completed. It will be the second, direct link of the Polish gas system with that of the European Union.
In August 2009, money was secured for constructing the Włocławek - Gdynia gas pipe, in May 2010 for the Jeleniów - Dziwiszów gas pipe. New gas pipes are being designed. The most important structures will be constructed in north-west, south-west and central Poland (Szczecin - Lwówek, Świnoujście - Szczecin, Szczecin - Gdańsk, Włocławek - Gdynia, Rembelszczyzna - Gustorzyn, Gustorzyn - Odolanów). Pursuant to the government’s plans, there will have been almost 1000 km of gas transmission networks by the end of 2015. Today, the transmission network is 9.7 thousand kilometers long.
Gas Contracts
Apart from domestic sources, energy supplies to Poland are guaranteed by long term, international agreements on the import of key raw materials. In June 2009, the government entered into an agreement with Qatar for the liquefied gas supplies. The agreement stipulating deliveries of 1.5 billion cubic meters of LNG a year will be binding from 2014 to 2034. Negotiations were finalized with Russia. The contract with this country is a guarantee of uninterrupted gas transmission to Poland until 2022. Energy safety of Poland is additionally guaranteed by gas supplies from the west.
Power Industry Outlays
The government has been systematically increasing outlays for projects ensuring energy diversification, as well as safe and uninterrupted gas supplies for industrial and individual customers. In 2009, outlays for the power industry amounted to PLN 8.3 billion. By way of comparison: in 2005 they totalled PLN 4.5 billion.
Energy investments are financed not only by the state budget. EUR 1.72 billion has been earmarked for the power industry in the Operational Program Infrastructure and Environment. In March 2009, during negotiations taking place at an EU summit in Brussels, the government acquired another net EUR 330 million for the execution of projects ensuring Poland’s energy security.