"Golden Weld“ on Gas Interconnetor Poland – Slovakia

Photo of the article On 3rd of August GAZ-SYSTEM and Eustream a.s on the Poland-Slovakia border made a symbolic "golden weld" on the gas pipeline that connects the gas systems of both countries.
The "golden weld" will connect the gas transmission systems of Poland and Slovakia. This interconnector, just like the Baltic Pipe laid today at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, will make it possible to implement a bold project. From the Baltic Sea to the mountain peaks, and further south of the continent, gas imported from the Norwegian Continental Shelf or as LNG from around the world is to flow. The construction carried out in this beautiful and difficult terrain is a good example that the border running along the ridge of the Carpathian Mountains promotes cooperation between our nations" - said Minister Piotr Naimski, Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure.
"The interconnection of the gas systems of Poland and Slovakia will contribute to enhancing regional security of gas supply and is an important element of the cooperation of the countries under the Three Seas initiative. The progress of construction works on the interconnector is currently over 90%. We are planning to complete the investment and launch the gas pipeline in accordance with the dates previously announced to the market, that is in the first quarter of 2022" - said Tomasz Stępień, President of the Management Board of GAZ-SYSTEM.
„The border weld symbolizes great progress in construction works both on Polish and Slovak side. The new connection will bring huge benefits to the CEE region and I want to thank all our partners who are helping to make this project a reality” - said Eustream’s general director Rastislav Ňukovič.
The Poland-Slovakia interconnector has a total length of approx. 164 km and a diameter of DN 1000. The gas pipeline on the Polish side (Strachocina - Polish border) is 61.3 km long and passes through the territory of three communes of the Podkarpackie voivodeship: Sanok, Bukowsko and Komańcza. The length of the interconnector on the Slovakian side is 103 km and ends at the gas compressor station Veľké Kapušany in Slovakia.  The pipeline will be able to transport gas in a capacity of 4.7 billion m3/year towards Slovakia or 5.7 billion m3/year towards Poland.  On the Polish side the construction of the interconnector started in September 2019, on the Slovak side the construction of the interconnector started a year earlier.
Construction works are at a very advanced stage despite the need to overcome technologically and geologically demanding terrain obstacles in the San Basin, Bukowski Foothills and Low Beskids. More than 20 trenchless crossings were made along the route. Poland's longest horizontal directional drilling (HDD) in the bedrock under the Sanoczek River, with a depth of approx. 50 m and a length of 1 124 m, was also carried out.
The construction of the gas pipeline is a projcet of European common interest, co-financed by the European Union under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and the Trans European Networks - Energy - TEN-E instruments.
In October 2013, the European Commission granted for the first time the investment the status of "Project of Common Interest" (PCI) and maintained it in subsequent lists published every two years.
”The new Poland-Slovakia pipeline is also a part of the planned European Hydrogen Backbone initiative.”