Croatia’s Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Damir Habijan visited the Krk island on Wednesday (21 February) to inspect the expansion of the Krk LNG terminal and the replacement of the 110 kilovolts (kV) Krk-Cres-Lošinj underwater transmission cables.
During his visit, Minister Habijan held a meeting with LNG Croatia’s Director General Ivan Fugaš to discuss, among other areas, the expansion of the Krk LNG terminal’s capacity, which should be operational from the gas year 2025-2026.
As noted during the visit, the main part of the gasification module design process, as well as its installation and implementation of the existing gasification system on the FSRU terminal, has been completed. Steel production for the module is underway, with all equipment and materials for its production also ordered. Additionally, tender documentation for the installation and commissioning of the regasification module is in progress.
Other development projects on the Krk island include the construction of distribution and bunker stations, a solar power plant and carbon capture for the LNG terminal.
In 2020, the Croatian electricity transmission system operator HOPS initiated preparatory activities for a series of investment projects, including replacing underwater cables connecting the islands of Krk, Cres, Lošinj, Brač, Hvar and Korčula. Notably, the project secured co-financing from Croatia’s EU recovery and resilience plan (RRP) in September 2022.
During the visit, the Minister also participated in a presentation on the project’s progression organised by HOPS’s President Igor Ivanković. “The government takes care of all inhabited islands of the Republic of Croatia. Today’s activities are crucial for the electricity supply to the population living on the islands. They are also significant in terms of renewable energy sources, especially when considering that green transition is a strategic goal of the Republic of Croatia and at the same time, an obligation if we want Europe to become the first climate-neutral continent,” Minister Habijan said.
“I would like to congratulate the HOPS leadership, as well as all the workers who have been working on this massive project for the past two years. In the last 50 years, underwater cables have not been replaced. This is a significant investment of 59.5 million euros that involves six islands – Hvar, Brač, Korčula and now Lošinj, Cres, and Krk. I would say that this is a significant day for Croatian islands and the Croatian energy system,” Minister Habijan added.
