Bartimpex and German E.ON Ruhrhgas have got the permission from Polish authorities to build the Polish part of Bernau-Szczecin gas pipeline. The project of Aleksander Gudzowaty, Bartimpex founder, should let him again become leading gas deliverer. The new pipeline would connect the Polish and German gas systems. Poland would get access to Western European fuel sources. The pipeline would deliver 2-4 billion cubic meters of gas.
Aleksander Gudzowaty needs, however, to convince state-controlled PGNiG to buy the gas. However, the Bernau-Szczecin project is connected with plans of Russian Gazprom and German Eo.ON Ruhrgas and BASF to build northern pipeline. The Polish state is against this project fearing that gas deliveries from Russia would be easily cut in Poland not affecting Western European clients.
“The Bernau-Szczecin project is no diversification. The participation of PGNiG depends on several conditions. The most important ones include: majority stake in the project, decisive influence on decision-making process, setting a delivery point on the Polish-German border, making Gaz-System the operator of the pipeline”, Tomasz Fill, PGNiG spokesman enumerated.
“Taking into account PGNiG’s market position, the company is right. We have offered a share in the project which should be satisfactory although it does not give it full control. We are waiting patiently”, Jan Antosik, Bartimpex deputy CEO said.
Bartimpex hopes to reach agreement with PGNiG and Gazprom during GSM of EuRoPol Gaz and Gas Trading held on June 21st and 19th.