Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan GRIP 2017

3.6.2 MARKET PLAYERS

All activities related to the transmission of gas in Poland are fully separated from generation and sales operations. Gas Transmission Operator GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. (hereafter GAZ-SYSTEM) was established in 2004. The company is responsible for the transportation of natural gas and the operation of the transmission network in Poland. GAZ-SYSTEM operates on the basis of a licence issued by the President of the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) which is valid until 2030. In addition, the com- pany performs the function of an independent system operator (ISO) on the Polish section of the Yamal-Europe pipeline. In line with Art. 3 of Regulation 715/2009 GAZ-SYSTEM was granted a certificate of independence in connection with the operation of the company's own transmission networks on 22 September 2014. In addition, on 19 May 2015 GAZ-SYSTEM also received a certificate of independence under the ISO model with respect to its oper- ation of the Polish section of the Yamal-Europe pipeline that is owned by EuRoPol GAZ s.a. Polskie LNG S.A. (Polskie LNG) is a daughter company of GAZ-SYSTEM that was established for the purpose of constructing and operating of the LNG terminal in Świnoujście. The facility has been commercially operational since June 2016. Polskie LNG currently offers short and long-term services embracing regasification of LNG and LNG-reloading to truck cisterns to all interested parties in an open and non-discriminatory manner. The capital group of Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG) holds a major position in the market. It is the biggest importer and gas producer in the country. It owns and operates UGS facilities connected to the transmission system in Poland via the storage company (Gas Storage Polandsp. z o.o.). Furthermore, the main distribution system operator (Polska Spółka Gazownictwa sp. z o.o.) remains within the vertical- ly integrated structure of PGNiG. Polish Power Exchange (PolPX) provides a platform for trading in electricity, natural gas, production limits (specifically for electricity generation), emission allowances and property rights. Gas trading was introduced in December 2012. An increasing number of other market players are entering the wholesale and retail gas market in Poland. Based on the data published by the Energy Regulatory Office, 172 players held a licence to trade in gaseous fuels at the end of 2015 (increase from 141 a year before). Among them 63 companies are active in that market (com- pared to 59 at the end of 2014). The share of these market participants in the gas market increases year by year and it reached the level of approx. 20% at the end of 2015.

BEMIP Gas Regional Investment Plan 2017 |

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