Organized by the Croatian Professional Association for Gas (HSUP), the 38th International Scientific and Professional Meeting of Gas Experts is being held in Opatija. At this largest energy conference in this part of Europe, more than a hundred domestic and international experts, including employees of Plinacro, will present current issues in the gas sector of Croatia and the world until Friday, May 12, and will familiarize themselves with the key guidelines for its future development.
At the opening of the conference, in its introductory part, Daria Krstičević, a member of the Management Board, greeted the attendees on behalf of Plinacro. On this occasion, she reflected on the challenges faced by stakeholders in the gas economy over the past year and happily pointed out that thanks to years of dedicated work and strategic thinking, the Croatian gas transmission system, including the LNG terminal and underground gas storage, has been part of the solution to the problems caused by the Russian aggression against Ukraine and a factor of stability in gas supply for Croatia and neighboring countries.
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In this context, she emphasized that contracts for pipes and equipment have already been signed for the Zlobin – Bosiljevo gas pipeline, which will increase transport capacity, and that preliminary consultations for the execution of works are underway. In the continuation of her speech, she presented the projects that Plinacro is developing to ensure energy stability in neighboring countries. These are projects aimed at increasing transport capacities towards Slovenia and Hungary, focusing on the Lučko-Zabok-Jezerišće-Sotla and Bosiljevo-Sisak-Kozarac-Slobodnica pipelines.
She highlighted that Plinacro is also working on connecting the Croatian gas transmission system to the southern gas corridor via the Adriatic-Ionian pipeline, and is simultaneously working on a project connecting with Bosnia and Herzegovina through the Southern Interconnection, as well as developing other projects that enable increased energy independence.
– It is undeniable that these projects will also open up the possibility for Croatia, from being a producer and end importer of natural gas, to become a transit country and a significant participant in the natural gas trade for neighboring countries. Plinacro, as always, actively participates and works diligently to achieve these goals. Regarding the development of the system and Plinacro’s future role in the green economy – I would emphasize that we are actively monitoring the technologies for the transport and application of hydrogen and other decarbonized gases and, in this context, we are developing our projects – concluded Krstičević.
Following the meeting, Andrea Stegher, the Vice President and elected future President of the International Gas Union, delivered a keynote lecture on the topic Natural Gas: An Energy Pillar for Solving the Energy Trilemma, followed by a panel discussion featuring LNG Croatia’s Technical Director Ivan Fugaš, INA’s Management Board member Marin Zovko, and Plinacro’s Management Board member Daria Krstičević. The main topics of the panel were the necessity of diversification and investment in new infrastructure projects that would support the energy transition and investments in new gas sources, including new ‘green’ and low-carbon gases.
This year, Plinacro employees are also actively participating in this central professional gathering of the gas economy as panelists, authors, and co-authors of professional papers.
