The first compressor station in the Croatian gas transport system was formally put in operation last week, with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković saying that this investment marked a strategic step that would change Croatia’s position on the gas supply market.

The compressor station at Velika Ludina, about 60 kilometres east of Zagreb, is technologically the most complex structure in the Croatian gas transport system. The gas pipeline operator Plinacro has invested 209.5 million kuna (28.3 million euro) in the project, which was launched in mid-August 2018, according to Total Croatia News.

The compressor station will increase gas supply security and enable bi-directional capacity at an interconnection with Hungary, thus enabling the transport of gas from the LNG terminal on Krk island to Hungary and third countries.

Prime Minister Plenković said that this installation, given that it enables bi-directional gas transport, gave a new, strategic dimension to energy and gas supply security in Croatia and opened up new possibilities for cooperation with Hungary and other countries in central and eastern Europe.