Following the meeting of the Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković and the Slovenian Prime Minister, Robert Golob held in March this year, a work meeting of the representatives of the Slovenian and Croatian gas transmission system operators, Plinovodi and Plinacro and the representatives of LNG Croatia was held in Zagreb.
The discussion revolved around the possibility of extending the interconnection of the Croatian and Slovenian gas systems and supply of Slovenia as well as Central and Eastern Europe with gas coming from the LNG terminal on the island of Krk. All parties expressed their readiness to cooperate on the development of this, in a strategic sense, extremely important project.
“Aware of the determinants from the strategy and geostrategic position of Croatia as well as the potential for additional transit of gas towards the markets in the region, Plinacro has been actively preparing a number of projects in order to enhance transmission of gas towards the region,” said the President of Plinacro Board, Ivica Arar. “For this purpose, guidelines and activities of the European Commission, which drew up the REPowerEU Plan and suggested a number of projects, have been followed and we are ready to commence the construction of additional transit capacities in a very short period of time.”
The capacity increase of the LNG terminal to 6.1 billion cubic metres of gas per year and the construction of the Zlobin – Bosiljevo gas pipeline will create a precondition for further development of gas transmission system and increase of gas transmission in the direction of Hungary and Slovenia.
The backbone of the possible supply to Slovenia, Austria and other countries in Central Europe is based on expanding the capacity of the existing Lučko-Zabok-Rogatec gas pipeline which would be achieved through the construction of a parallel gas pipeline of larger diameter and larger operating pressure. Gas pipelines towards Slovenia are included on the last PCI list. Procedures of procuring and contracting equipment and works may commence immediately after necessary financial means are provided and a final investment decision is taken.
