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Croatian natural gas transmission system operator, Plinacro, announced the completion of the 58 km long pipeline in a statement on Friday.
According to Plinacro, the pipeline worth about 140 million euros ($153 million) will improve Croatia’s gas supply security and increase gas transit to Hungary and Slovenia.
The firm also announced the start of the construction of the Lučko-Zabok pipeline, which is expected to be completed in 15 months. This pipeline is worth about 78 million euros and will further boost gas transit capacity to Slovenia.
These projects are part of the supporting infrastructure for the expansion of the Krk LNG terminal.
LNG Croatia is owned by Croatian state-owned power utility HEP and Plinacro with 85 percent and 15 percent, respectively.
Hungary’s MFGK and a unit of Switzerland-based trading firm MET are some of the users of the facility.
Due to high demand, the Croatian government decided in 2022 to boost the capacity of the FSRU-based Krk LNG terminal.
In 2023, a unit of Finland’s Wartsila won a contract to supply one regasification module for the FSRU.
Under the contract, Wartsila Gas Solutions is building the regas module with a maximum capacity of 250,000 m3/h. The firm awarded the module contract to China’s CIMC SOE.
The current three LNG regasification units have a maximum regasification rate of 451,840 m3/h.
Following the upgrade, the Krk LNG facility will have a capacity of about 6.1 bcm per year in 2025.