Poland is advancing toward the completion of its second liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, following the launch of a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. This milestone marks the end of the vessel's main structural work and the beginning of the next project phase, as announced by Poland's state-run gas pipeline operator, Gaz-System.

Project Timeline and Capacity

The FSRU, which has yet to be named, is expected to arrive in the Gulf of Gdansk on the Baltic Sea by the end of 2027, with regasification operations slated to begin in the first quarter of 2028. The Gdansk terminal will be Poland's first to utilize an FSRU instead of onshore regasification facilities. Its first phase has an annual import capacity of 6.1 billion cubic meters (Bcma), all of which is booked by Orlen, Poland's largest oil and gas company. A potential second phase, pending a final investment decision by Gaz-System, could boost capacity by an additional 4.5 Bcma.

Strategic Importance

Poland's Minister of Energy, Milosz Motyka, emphasized that the FSRU program and related investments are diversifying natural gas supply sources, strengthening Poland's role as a regional energy hub, and enhancing European energy security. Once the first phase is operational, LNG will become the dominant source of Poland's gas imports.

Existing Infrastructure and Import Sources

Poland already operates an LNG terminal in the Baltic port of Swinoujscie, which entered service in 2016 and underwent upgrades completed at the end of 2025, increasing its capacity to about 8.3 Bcma. Additionally, Poland has access to LNG from a terminal in Klaipeda, Lithuania, with a capacity of 3.75 Bcma, linked by pipeline to Poland's gas network. In 2025, Poland imported most of its gas via the Baltic Pipe system, which transports gas from Norway to Denmark and Poland.

Gas Import and Consumption Trends

According to Orlen's latest financial report, Poland's annual gas imports rose to approximately 19.3 billion cubic meters (Bcm) in 2025, a 23% increase year-on-year. Supply via the Baltic Pipe grew by 23% from the previous year, accounting for 46% of total imports. LNG regasification was the second largest source, representing 42% of imports, with the remainder coming from interconnectors with Germany, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Slovakia. Domestic natural gas consumption reached about 19.6 Bcm in 2025, up 6.8% from 2024, driven largely by an 11% increase in gas demand from the power generation sector.