The construction of liquefied natural gas terminal in Świnoujście has been notified to the European Commission by the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection. The project provides aid exceeding PLN 925 million

UOKiK submitted to the European Commission the state aid project for this investment in more than PLN 925 million. It will be granted to Polskie LNG from the funds of the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment by Oil and Gas Institute

The project involves construction of a gas port in Świnoujście. This will be the installation used to receive and convert the gas in liquefied form (LNG) to gas. The LNG terminal will be launched in 2014. Thanks to the investment it will be possible to supply Poland with LNG from virtually anywhere in the world in such quantity as to satisfy approximately 36 percent of annual demand of the country.

On 4 August 2011 UOKiK submitted to the European Commission the state aid project for this investment in more than PLN 925 million. It will be granted to Polskie LNG from the funds of the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment by Oil and Gas Institute.

The state aid project will be evaluated by the European Commission in respect of compliance with the internal market. The EC has two months to issue a decision.

It should be remembered that:

• granting aid to undertakings from public funds is possible only after the approval by the European Commission - the exception is de minimis aid and aid granted under the block exemption;
• prior to notification, the planned aid will receive an opinion by the President of UOKiK - but such opinion will not be binding, only advisory - to raise awareness of the authorities, who plan to provide support, whether it constitutes state aid, whether it is subject to notification, and whether there is a chance that the European Commission will give its consent for granting the aid. Opinion itself is not passed the EC, because it is made exclusively for Polish aid-providing bodies;
• the President of UOKiK will be responsible for reporting (notification) of the aid program or aid project to the European Commission, and then participation in the proceedings before the Commission;
• the Commission has two months to issue a decision confirming the compliance of the planned aid with the Community legislation. This deadline may be extended if during the procedure the European Commission asks for additional information and clarification. The next two month-period will be counted from the moment it receives the response;
• the decision may be appealed against to the Court of Justice.

Additional information for the media:
Małgorzata Cieloch, Spokesperson for UOKiK
Department of International Relations and Communication
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa
Tel. +48 22 827 28 92, 55 60 314
faks +48 22 826 11 86
E-mail: malgorzata.cieloch@uokik.gov.pl