Polskie LNG and University of Western Australia launching R&D cooperation
Polish-Australian Energy Forum taking place in Sydney and featuring the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, was inaugurated with Polskie LNG and the University of Western Australia (UWA) concluding a Memorandum of Understanding on the exchange of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) know-how and technology. Polskie LNG thus followed in the footsteps of leading global corporations which work in partnership with the ARC Training Centre for LNG Futures at UWA.
The Conference On Polish & Australian Technology And Innovation In The Resource And Energy Sectors was held in Sydney on 21 August this year. It featured representatives of the Polish government and energy companies as well as representatives of the Australian administration, technology companies and the academic world. The meeting was opened by the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Australia Michał Kołodziejski and Stephanie Fahey, CEO of Australian Trade and Investment Commission. The topics of the conference included the overview of the resource and energy sector in Poland and Australia, possibilities for cooperation in those two industries between both countries as well as natural resource technology and innovations used today on the Australian market.
The key event during the forum was the ceremony conducted, in the presence of the gathered guests, execution of the Memorandum of Understanding between Polskie LNG and the University of Western Australia. The Agreement was signed on behalf of the parties by: CEO of Polskie LNG Paweł Jakubowski and Professor Eric May, Chevron Chair in Gas Process Engineering and Director, ARC ITTC LNG Futures, UWA.
- The cooperation with the University of Western Australia will be another step, this time a great leap, in the relations we have been building for a long time now with our Australian partners. We are hoping for a yet more intensive and systematic corporation in the LNG area, one bringing forth innovation in technology transfer and consequently leading to us implementing the most efficient and cutting-edge technological solutions in the expansion of the LNG Terminal in Świnoujście now taking place. We wish to thank our partners for their trust in us and we are immediately proceeding to implement the provisions of the memorandum - pointed out Paweł Jakubowski, CEO of Polskie LNG.
Polskie LNG has been intensifying its co-operation with Australian partners since last year, when the conference Focus on gas: linking Australia and Central & Eastern Europe was organised by GAZ-SYSTEM Group with Austrade, in Warsaw. The participants were Australian and Polish gas industry companies and the meeting was also used as an opportunity to present to the Australian guests the President Lech Kaczyński LNG Terminal in Świnoujście and the operations of Polskie LNG. In March 2018, the company’s representatives also took part in the Australasian Oil & Gas Exhibition & Conference, held in Perth. One of the topics covered during bilateral meetings taking place there was the possibility for launching R&D cooperation with Australian research and development centres. As a result of the talks, Professor Eric May representing the University of Western Australia came on a visit to Poland in April this year. The agreement concluded today establishes regular cooperation between the parties, enabling partnership in the area of technology development for the LNG market, science and innovation. One of the upcoming activities planned is a meeting to be organised in Poland between academic staff representing the University of Western Australia and research centres of the Western Pomerania, including those from Szczecin and Świnoujście. Moreover, GAZ-SYSTEM, the holding company of Polskie ING, is also working with Australian companies, on the Baltic Pipe project, among others. Hence, the Group is interested in extending the current cooperation to include new areas and projects. Australia, with its resources, scientific and technological capabilities, shows a very high potential in the LNG area, including the expansion of services provided by this country beyond the markets of Australia and Oceania.
The transfer of the Australian know-how into Poland may have a positive impact on the investment activities of Polskie LNG. In 2018, the company embarked on the extension of the LNG Terminal in Świnoujście, as a result of which its regasification capacity will increase from 5 bcm (billion cubic metres) to 7.4 bcm annually, which will be close to half of Poland’s yearly demand for gas. The terminal will also have new facilities such as the third storage tank, the region’s first siding for rail transport of LNG and an additional jetty for smaller vessels. The expansion program is expected to be finalized in the coming 4-5 years. Currently the necessary administrative decisions for respective expansion elements are being sought and tendering procedures to select key contractors are being held.
- LNG being an environmentally friendly and low emission fuel is currently becoming a preferred power source for maritime and inland navigation as well as an increasingly common fuel in road transport. The LNG market in Poland, in the region and worldwide keeps developing and our terminal, after the extension, stands a chance of playing a major role in this process. The goal of our participation in the current economic mission to Australia is, among others,is to make Australian entrepreneurs interested in taking part in the investment project consisting in terminal extension as well as to gain broader knowledge on the industry solutions available in the Australian market - Paweł Jakubowski went on to add.
On the same day, a Memorandum of Understanding was also concluded by Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa (JSW), JSW Innowacje and Australian government agency CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation). The economic mission of Polish companies to Australia, accompanying the visit of the President of the Republic of Poland to this country, will continue until August 23rd.
Polskie LNG S.A. is the owner and operator of the LNG Terminal in Świnoujście (Poland), the only facility of this scale to import liquefied gas in the CEE region. The terminal, operating since 2015, is a strategic investment project of the Polish government, increasing the region’s energy security and enabling diversification of supply routes of natural gas into this part of Europe.
University of Western Australia was established in 1911 in Perth, Australia. It educates around 25,000 students across 4 faculties. It undertakes intensive engineering research (including research on LNG) and it has an extensive experience in implementing technological solutions in Australia and worldwide. The university runs a number of R&D programmes highly valued by the industry, contributing to the industrial-scale implementation of innovative solutions as regards the use of LNG. The centre also has the necessary infrastructure to run programmes in partnership with leading global corporations, including, inter alia, Chevron, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Woodside, ExxonMobil and NERA.
