The 13 energy and industrial companies financing the Skanled project for a possible gas pipeline to eastern Norway, western Sweden and Denmark are positive to including Poland’s PGNiG.

This response follows an application by the Polish Oil and Gas Company to join the project with a view to laying a pipeline which would link a Danish Skanled terminal with Poland.

PGNiG recently secured a 15 per cent interest in the Skarv licence in the Norwegian Sea.

Germany’s major E.ON Ruhrgas energy company is also considering a stake in Skanled.

“This would strengthen the project considerably,” says Thor Otto Lohne at gas pipeline operator Gassco. On the owner side, it seems likely that the pipeline is fully financed.

“These additional participants would also substantially improve capacity utilisation at start-up, and thereby enhance the economics of the project.”

The Skanled consortium aims to reach an investment decision in 2009, and to start gas deliveries in 2012 at an estimated development cost of NOK 7 billion.

Plans also call for the construction of an ethane separation facility in the Grenland area of south-east Norway in association with the transport system. Its estimated cost is NOK 2 billion.

At the request of Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Gassco has joined with potential users in a working party which will develop a business model and secure financing for the separation facility.