15.03.2010
Eustream and FGSZ starting binding registrations for the gas interconnector between Slovakia and Hungary
Bratislava – The largest carrier of Russian gas in the European Union, eustream, a.s. (Eustream) in co-operation with Hungarian transmission system operator FGSZ Zrt. (FGSZ) are launching the binding phase of the Open Season for the planned gas interconnector between the Slovak Republic and Hungary. Applicants interested in using the transmission capacity of planned interconnector can submit their bids by 31 May 2010.
Following on from the non-binding phase of the market survey, the binding phase is yet another step by Eustream and FGSZ toward mutual interconnection of their gas transmission systems. Non-binding interest in the use of the capacity of the new gas pipeline between Slovakia and Hungary has been expressed by 15 companies. The aggregated maximum transmission capacity covered by non-binding requests for both flow directions comes to over 6 billion m3 a year.
In terms of the binding phase of the Open Season, in addition to already registered parties, new applicants can now register and submit their binding bids for use of the capacity of the planned gas pipeline. Eustream and FGSZ will evaluate the bids and publish the results in the middle of June 2010, whereby the signing of long-term contracts should be completed in the middle of July 2010.
“We are optimistic that also once the binding phase is over we will have enough shippers interested in transmission of natural gas for the project to go ahead”, said Chairman of the Board of Directors of Eustream, Andreas Rau.
The Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the new gas line was signed by Eustream and FGSZ in June 2009. The planned pipeline should cover a length of approximately 115 kilometres. It will connect up the high-pressure system located at Veľké Zlievce with the Hungarian transmission network near the village of Vecsés on the suburbs of Budapest. Eustream expects the gas pipeline to be in operation at the beginning of 2013.
The additional cross-border capacity will increase gas market liquidity and also improve the future security of gas supply for the Central European region. In the future the project could be connected also to prepared European gas projects like Nabucco, South Stream or the LNG terminal in Croatia.
The project of interconnecting Slovakia with Hungary was awarded an EU grant under the European Energy Programme for Recovery (EEPR).
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