The GIPL聽pipeline project聽between聽Lithuania and Poland should be completed as soon聽as possible, according to聽Algirdas Butkevicius, Lithuania's prime minister on Thursday.
Butkevicius who met with Polish Prime Minister,聽Ewa Kopacz,聽in Brussels discussed mutual energy projects particularly the stalled gas pipeline interconnection between their two countries.
"The smooth聽implementation of the electricity interconnection project 'LitPol Link'聽is an example of our excellent cooperation. We should follow this example when implementing another mutual project 鈥� the gas pipeline interconnection between Lithuania and Poland, GIPL,"聽said Butkevicius.
GIPL聽is a joint venture which was聽announced in 2011 between聽the聽Lithuanian energy company Amber Grid and the Polish gas transmission system operator Gaz-System.
The feasibility study for the project was prepared in 2013 and its engineering design and construction will be completed in 2019. However, progress on the financing of the project聽has been slow prompting Lithuania's prime minister to urge his Polish counterpart to promptly resolve such issues.
鈥淭he implementation of GIPL would ensure the support for the EU energy union and eliminate energy islands,鈥� Butkevicius said, adding that聽is essential to solve the issue of financing聽this project as soon as possible because it聽is the only project that is able to integrate the Baltic States into the European gas market.
The goals of project are to聽integrate聽the isolated gas markets of Baltic countries into a single EU gas market, diversify聽gas supply sources and routes, ensure security and reliability of gas supplies and allow聽Baltic countries access to the global LNG market.
By Murat Temizer
Anadolu Agency
murat.temizer@aa.com.tr