Szczecin group plans gas terminal, challenging Norway deal
Konsorcjum Zachodniopomorski Terminal LNG, an alliance of major firms from
the Szczecin region, plans to build by a ship terminal near the city to
import up to 5 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year, potentially
jeopardizing the gas deal the Polish government is negotiating with Norway.
It is not certain whether the market will be big enough to accommodate the
gas shipped in by LNG, the Norway deal, Gazprom of Russia, the only external
supplier so far, as well as the gas mined by Polish Gas and Oil Mining
(PGNiG). LNG, which plans to complete the terminal by 2004, claims that its
gas will be cheaper than the one imported from Norway. According to
estimates, the Polish gas market will grow to some 22-24 billion cubic
meters in 2020. The government said it will not try and block LNG's plans
and will let the consortium go ahead if it manages to obtain the necessary
permits. (Puls Biznesu, p. 1-2) M.S.-C.
