KB Gaz Technologia i Energia which is owned by RWE (74 percent) and Polish partners is preparing plans for the construction of a gas pipeline in north west Poland.
This is the fourth planned gas pipeline in this part of Poland. Other companies seeking a fortune in this gas market are IRB which comprises of Bartimpex and Ruhrgas and is planning a pipeline between Bernau and Szczecin. The other two contenders are the LNG Terminal and Baltic Pipe. This new plan is largely a competing project for the
Bernau-Szczecin link as it largely follows the same route and likewise will be able to transport 500m cubic metres of gas annually.
Construction on the Polish side will cost PLN60m. All interested parties in any gas project need to get one key client on their side — the Szczecin central heating concern. Other key local clients are also the Police chemical works and the Dolna Odra electrical concern.
KB Gaz Technologia i Energia has already spoken to the Police works but the questions on the privatisation of the chemical plant has made a final agreement difficult.
KB Gaz Technologia i Energia claims that it does not want to import gas but to be a distributor. Negotiations on gas purchases will be the responsibility of the buyers and suppliers. The fact that RWE is the largest shareholder of the company does not mean that it must the supplier.
The company is seeking the support of local authorities who would be able not only to tax the land used but also get a return on the profits according to Wojciech Blaszczyk, MD of KB Gaz Technologia i Energia. Funds for construction work are to come from credits and own resources, a large part of which will be supplied by RWE.
KB Gaz Technologia i Energia hopes to be able to work with the current monopoly PGNiG from whom it has already taken clients in the seaside resorts of Kamień Pomorski and Międzyzdroje. In this case it bought local gas infrastructure from the local authorities and invested PLN15m in them. It is now seeking similar deals with other authorities.