President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen symbolically opened the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline on Tuesday (September 27) by turning a valve at the gas compressor station in Goleniów, northwestern Poland. Gas from the Norwegian continental shelf will flow to Poland starting October 1. The Baltic Pipe Project is one of Poland's flagship investments meant to end the country's energy dependence from Russia and ensure its energy security.
The Baltic Pipe was officially launched on Tuesday by Poland's President Andrzej Duda and Prime Ministers of Poland and Denmark - Mateusz Morawiecki and Mette Frederiksen. All three symbolically opened a valve at the Goleniów gas compressor station.
President Duda said the Baltic Pipe Project had been Poland's dream for decades and that the investment would diversify the country's gas supplies, strengthen its sovereignty, and end its dependence on Russia in that regard.
"It's hard to get emotional over parts of gas installation, but please trust me - to me it's a really moving moment," Duda said.
Morawiecki: Russian gas domination ends today
The era of Russian domination in the gas sphere, marked by threats and extortion, ends today. We are entering a new era of sovereignty, energy freedom and increased energy security.
Safety comes from cooperation. We show the world that through cooperation and solidarity, it is possible to increase the security and energy sovereignty of our continent. The #BalticPipe is the opposite of what served Putin's war plans.
We want to live in harmony and peace with Russia, but we also see that we must be consolidated and determined. We must work towards energy sovereignty, of which the Baltic Pipe will be a symbol forever.
From now on, the Baltic Pipe is a gas pipeline of freedom, sovereignty, security and peace.
Frederiksen: Baltic Pipe to free us from Russian gas
"It is vital that we work closely together in Europe to free us from Russian gas as soon as possible," Denmark's PM Mette Frederiksen said at the Baltic Pipe opening ceremony.
"Baltic Pipe is a big step in achieving this – I am proud of Denmark and Poland’s close corporation on the project," she added.
Baltic Pipe Project
The project has been set up in collaboration between the Danish gas and electricity transmission system operator Energinet and the Polish gas transmission system operator GAZ-SYSTEM.
The Baltic Pipe Project consists of 5 major components: the North Sea offshore pipeline, onshore Denmark, compressor station in Denmark, the Baltic Sea offshore pipeline, onshore Poland.
Energinet is responsible for the development of the first three components in the Danish territory, and GAZ‑SYSTEM is in charge of constructing the offshore pipeline between Denmark and Poland and the expansion of the Polish gas transmission system.
The Baltic Pipe Project is planned to be fully operational by October 1, 2022.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: TVN24