European gas market
The European Union faces an exceptional chance of creating the largest, competition-based, integrated natural gas market in the world.
For the functioning of the European gas market, the proper implementation of existing EU legislation in domestic laws is of fundamental importance so that the markets will be able to function and to ensure that they will be truly open to all clients as of 1 July 2007.
European legislation specifies that a free flow of gas is to be guaranteed through the European Union, pursuant to cohesive technical policies. This is fundamental not only in ensuring a competitive market but also in guaranteeing supply security. For this objective to be attained, Transmission System Operator’s (TSOs) need to provide transmission sufficient capacity enough to satisfy demand and to integrate the domestic markets without sustaining a loss in the quality of the supply.
To safeguard effective and secure functioning on a cross-border level, TSOs have to establish detailed internal operational standards. The result of GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. cooperation with international companies in the sector was the conclusion of operator agreements with Ukrainian Ukrtransgaz NAK Naftogaz and BIELTRANSGAS in the Belarus. The agreement with the Ukrainian operator concerned dispatching cooperation in the field of gas flow control in the Poland - Ukraine gas system interconnection point – Drozdowicze; whereas with the Belarussian operator in the interconnection points of the Polish and Belarussian gas systems - Wysokoje and Tietierowka. GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. has also regulated operating cooperation with the German transmission system operator ONTRAS – VNG Gastransport GmbH for the Lasow, Gubin and Kamminke points.
Gas Transmission Europe (GTE) is the organisation representing European transmission system operators. The organisation has several dozen members managing and operating over 250,000 kilometres of gas pipelines. GTE is involved in facilitating constructive dialogue and the exchange of expertise and experience between the European transmission system operators, in which GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. takes an active part. The main purpose of cooperation within GTE is the development of European transmission infrastructure, the promotion of the transparency and non-discriminatory principles in contacts with customers as well as the search for new investment solutions. Regular consultations concerning the shape of the European gas market are also a form of cooperation that is undertaken by GTE members.