“I am convinced that this project, in its basic framework, will be implemented within the expected time” – this is what Deputy Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Marcin Przydacz said about the construction of Baltic Pipe. He was positive about the possibility of the EC getting involved in finding a solution after Denmark’s decision on the pipeline.
Unofficial information coming from the European Commission indicates that the EC is ready to engage in finding a solution after Denmark’s decision to revoke the environmental permit for the onshore section of the pipeline.
Asked on TV Republika about the EC’s readiness to get involved, the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed his conviction that the project would be completed.
“This project is being implemented and even if there are various formalistic challenges, I am absolutely positive and I am convinced that this project, in its basic framework, will be implemented within the expected time” – said Przydacz.
The Deputy Head also positively referred to the possibility of EC involvement.
“If the European Commission is ready to become involved in supporting this project, which is important not only for Poland but for the entire region of Central and Eastern Europe if the Commission wants to support it, and this is how I understand it, then, of course, the Polish government will not block this activity in any way” – said Przydacz.
Last Thursday, Danish transmission system operator Energinet announced that the Danish Environmental and Food Appeals Commission had revoked the environmental permit for the Baltic Pipe, which is to carry gas from Norway through Denmark to Poland. Energinet’s July 12, 2019, environmental permit from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency was revoked on May 31, according to a company announcement. The case was remanded to that office for further consideration.
The decision means that the Danish Environmental Protection Agency must carry out the additional studies needed to assess whether the investment is likely to damage or destroy breeding or resting grounds for designated animal species, namely certain species of mice and bats found in the area of the landward section of the 210-kilometre gas pipeline planned to run through Jutland and the islands of Funen and Zealand.
Baltic Pipe is a strategic project to create a new route for natural gas supplies from Norway to the Danish and Polish markets and end-users in neighbouring countries. The pipeline will be able to transport 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to Poland and 3 billion cu.m. from Poland to Denmark. The investors are the transmission operators Danish Energinet and Polish Gaz-System. According to the plans, it is scheduled to become operational on October 1, 2022.