UPDATE: PERN signs agreement on connecting Poland's infrastructure with NATO fuel system
Poland's fuel logistics system operator PERN and ZIOTP, the Polish state agency for NATO investment, have concluded a preliminary agreement on cooperation in the implementation of a programme to expand Poland's fuel infrastructure in order to connect it to the NATO pipeline system. Poland's energy deputy minister Wojciech Wrochna assessed that this step will strengthen country's security and allow to reduce the unit costs of expanding Poland's fuel infrastructure.
On Friday, Poland's fuel logistics system operator PERN and ZIOTP, the Polish state agency for NATO investment, have concluded a preliminary agreement on cooperation in the implementation of a programme to expand Poland's fuel infrastructure in order to connect it to the NATO pipeline system.
After signing the agreement, Poland's defence deputy minister Cezary Tomczyk announced that as part of connecting the national fuel infrastructure to the NATO pipeline system, 300 kilometres of pipelines will be built – from the German border to the PERN base near Bydgoszcz.
"We are talking about a project worth PLN 20 billion," he stressed.
Deputy minister Tomczyk announced that NATO Headquarters, specifically the NATO Resource Office, had allocated funds to Poland for the planning and design of the investment. He added that the investment would be planned and designed by the ZIOTP, a unit subordinate to the Ministry of National Defence (MON).
Tomczyk clarified that after the planning and design stage is completed, a decision by all Alliance countries will be needed to approve the final construction of the Polish section.
PERN stated in a press release that the document specifies the responsibilities of the parties and outlines the stages of the project, which involves connecting the system operated by PERN S.A. to the NATO fuel pipeline system, as well as the construction of fuel storage facilities for the Alliance's armed forces.
"We are combining energy and military security in a single investment. The pipeline system will supply airports, increase logistics efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen NATO's readiness in the region," said Wrochna, quoted by the Ministry of Energy on X.
During the conference marking the signing of the agreement, Wrochna pointed out that by being able to use this system for both civilian and military purposes, Poland is giving itself the opportunity to make better and more effective use of funds and thus reduce the unit costs of these investments.
The government's representative for strategic energy infrastructure pointed out that dual-use investments, military and civilian, also provide additional economic security. He indicated that the pipelines that will be built will be able to be used on a daily basis to transport fuel that can be used for civilian purposes, e.g. for airports.
"This is an important event for the security of our country," PERN's CEO Daniel Swietochowski told the conference.
He added that the current Polish pipeline system is a closed and isolated system and connecting it to the NATO pipeline will provide enormous capabilities for maintaining logistics in the event of a potential threat.
"The second logistics system, which we own, is the entire pipeline logistics system related to fuel market supply. (...) There are 19 fuel depots. They can be a very important element of logistics, not only in times of peace," CEO Swietochowski pointed out.
The Ministry of Energy also announced on X that counter-terrorism exercises involving the Police, Border Guard and Military Police took place at the LNG terminal in Swinoujscie.
"This is key infrastructure for gas supplies. The services trained in responding to drones and port blockades," the ministry noted.
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