ORLEN advances strategic Baltic Eagle Gas Hub project
ORLEN has reserved regasification capacity at the FSRU 2 terminal to be launched in the Gulf of Gdańsk. This decision will enhance the flexibility of LNG supplies and strengthen the energy security of Poland and the wider region, while supporting the development of the Baltic Eagle Gas Hub concept. With FSRU 1, FSRU 2 and capacity reserved at the Klaipėda LNG terminal, accessed via the Santaka interconnector, the ORLEN Group will be able to import more than 16 bcm of natural gas annually (after regasification).
ORLEN’s participation in the Open Season procedure for FSRU 2 marks another step in the development of a diversified and flexible LNG import portfolio. The reserved capacity will enable the Group to receive additional LNG volumes over the coming decade, complementing capacities available at the Świnoujście LNG terminal, the FSRU 1 terminal to be built in Gdańsk and international LNG terminals used by the Group.
‘The energy of tomorrow is about independence and security of supply. It’s also about making energy as affordable as possible to our customers. This is why we’re making strategic decisions today. Securing capacity at FSRU 2 is another step in the development of the Baltic Eagle Gas Hub, designed to ensure the security of gas supply not only for Poland, but for the entire region. It will also expand our import and trading capabilities. ORLEN’s growing footprint in the LNG market strengthens our security grounded in diversified supply sources and flexible logistics,’ says Ireneusz Fąfara, CEO and President of the Management Board of ORLEN.
The reservation covers 12 LNG cargo slots per year between 2030 and 2039. This corresponds to the ability to receive approximately 1.25 bcm of natural gas annually. The new capacity addition forms part of ORLEN’s broader gas market strategy. When combined with the Świnoujście, FSRU 1 and Klaipėda terminals,
it will increase the Group’s LNG import capabilities to over 16 bcm of natural gas annually. The Group currently utilises the Świnoujście LNG terminal, with an annual regasification capacity increased to 8.3 bcm following its recent expansion, and has also reserved the full capacity of the planned FSRU 1 terminal in Gdańsk, amounting to 6.1 bcm annually. In addition, ORLEN has access to the Klaipėda LNG terminal and, through a subsidiary, the LNG terminal in Montoir, France. Complementing this infrastructure is the Group’s own LNG carrier fleet, which enhances its control over the supply chain and operational flexibility.
The scale of ORLEN’s activity in the global LNG market is reflected in the number of deliveries received in Poland. Early next week, the Group will receive its 450th LNG cargo at the Świnoujście LNG terminal, where it holds annual capacity of 8.3 bcm. To date, LNG deliveries have enabled the import of more than 46 bcm of natural gas to Poland. This volume is equivalent to 527.7 TWh of energy, which – assuming average household consumption of approximately 20 MWh per year – would meet the annual energy needs of more than 26 million households. The figures illustrate the transformation of Poland’s gas supply model over the past decade – from reliance on a single source of supply to ORLEN’s active presence in the global LNG market and the development of a diversified import portfolio.
The expansion of LNG import infrastructure has significant implications beyond Poland. Thanks to cross-border interconnections and ORLEN’s trading activity, gas imported through Polish LNG terminals can also support security of supply in neighbouring countries, including Ukraine, Slovakia and other CEE markets. In this context, the Baltic Eagle Gas Hub represents a response to the lasting transformation of Europe’s energy architecture after the cutting down of supplies from Russia and the growing role of LNG across the region. Securing additional import capacity will also increase the Group’s operational flexibility and provide a platform for continued expansion of its LNG business in the years ahead.
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