Government refuses to endorse construction of a German Szczecin-pipeline

Gas-importer Bartimpex is disappointed by the government's refusal to endorse construction of a cheaper pipeline from Bernau, in Germany, to Szczecin. Bartimpex had planned to develop the pipeline with Germany's Ruhrgas, but despite filing with state-owned Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG), which has exclusive rights to import gas, it has not received the permits it requires to go ahead with the investment. Instead, the government is keen on constructing a more expensive pipeline from Norway via the Baltic Sea to Poland. According to Bartimpex president Aleksander Gudzowaty, the pipeline from Bernau is superior to the Norwegian one as it would connect Poland to the pan-European gas network, thus enabling Poland to import gas from a number of suppliers including Britain, the Netherlands and Algeria. Additionally, the cost of constructing the 146-kilometer pipeline from Germany would be about DM 200 million and could be completed within one-and-half years, whereas the Norwegian 800-kilometer pipeline would cost between $2 billion and $3 billion and could take six years to complete. However, PGNiG says Bartimpex's information is incorrect and the Norwegian pipeline would only cost $1 billion and could be constructed within two years. Nonetheless, PGNiG does not rule out constructing the pipeline from Germany, but believes the Norwegian deal would come first. (Gazeta Wyborcza, Aug. 5-6, page 25) S.M.