Modernisation of several gas compressor units at Inčukalna UGS to be completed this year

As the modernisation of the Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage Facility (UGS) within the framework of the European investment project of common interest continues, the modernisation of two gas pumping units will be completed at Inčukalns UGS this year, thus three gas pumping compressors will be fully modernised by the end of the year, Conexus Baltic Grid JSC (hereinafter - Conexus) informs. In the long term, the works will increase the efficiency and safety of the storage facility.

In May, test work on the upgraded gas compressor units No.2 and No.4 started, which means that natural gas will be injected using the upgraded units already in spring. Another gas compressor unit, No 3, has already been upgraded. The upgrading of gas compressor units 5 and 6 will start in the autumn of this year and will be completed by the end of July next year. In addition to increasing the injecting capacity of the existing gas compressor units, the upgrading will also reduce the amount of emissions released into the atmosphere and reduce the consumption of fuel gas.

Rinalds Dimiņš, CEO of Conexus Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage, points out that the entire set of activities of the modernisation project allows for a significant improvement in the operation of the storage facility. "Although the past year has been spent under the shadow of a pandemic and 2022 has started with a number of challenges, as shown by the war launched by Russia in Ukraine, we have managed to continue implementing all the investment projects we have started. In some cases, we have switched to other suppliers or service providers, discontinuing cooperation with Russian partners. However, these shifts will not have long-term consequences. Notwithstanding these changes, we have delivered on our core business of ensuring the safe and uninterrupted operation of storage. As for the European projects, each of them, in terms of technology and capability, significantly strengthens the security, performance and integrity of the natural gas infrastructure in the region, whose role will only grow in the future."

Dimiņš also informed that the procurement of a new gas compressor unit to increase the production capacity through a compressor will be implemented this year, with the contract to be concluded with the supplier by the end of the year. The supply of equipment for the reconstruction of gas collection point No 3 is also planned.

Conexus also plans to carry out well workovers as part of the modernisation project.

Conexus has been implementing the project of common European interest since 2019 to strengthen the role of Inčukalns UGS as a modern and critical natural gas infrastructure not only in Latvia, but also in the Baltic and Finnish region. The total project financing is EUR 88 million, of which 50% is European co-financing.

The European Union projects are implemented under contracts with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency.