annual report / the system that connects

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2 raport roczny 07/08 Corporate Mission We develop the natural gas transportation system, combining the expectations of our customers with the growth of the company and the gas market in Poland. GAZ-SYSTEM. Corporate Vision The long-term goal of the company s operations is to reach the position of one of the best performing suppliers of transmission services in Europe by: ensuring safety in the operation of the national transmission system, also as an element of the European gas pipeline network, ensuring long-term growth of the company s goodwill to its owner, implementing best practices and standards in the company in order to offer the optimum deals to customers, managing the company in line with the Responsible Business Principles, maintaining stable, positive relations with investors. Our company allows business entities to use its transmission network based on non-discriminatory and transparent rules. 2

3 Table of contents 1. Letter of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board 4 2. Letter of the President of the Management Board 6 3. Calendar of Events Company Profile Transmission System Investment Projects Polskie LNG sp. z o.o Customer Relations Human Resources Policy GAS-SYSTEM S.A. in the International Arena Economic Information Responsible Business Auditor s Opinion Financial Statements Contact Details 67 3

4 raport roczny 07/08 Letter of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, The past financial year was extremely important to Gas Transmission Operator GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. The company was assigned a new role that of the entity responsible for the development of the first LNG Terminal in Poland to be built in Świnoujście. The Council of Ministers adopted a resolution which recognizes the strategic importance of the project for the interest of our country, in line with the plans aimed at diversification of sources and routes of natural gas supply and ensuring the energy security of Poland. Consequently, since December 2008 GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. has been the owner of Polskie LNG. The LNG Terminal is one of the most important investment projects in our country, which will permanently rearrange the situation on the natural gas market in Poland and will contribute to diversification of natural gas supply directions. Jerzy Molak Chairman of the Supervisory Board The Company has also started intensive preparatory process to embrace execution of new strategic investment projects related to the construction of new gas pipelines. GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. consequently pursues its development strategy which is clearly reflected in strong financial results achieved by the company. Net result for the last financial year was PLN 288 million. The company s return on assets rate (ROA) was 5.8% and the return on equity (ROE) was 8.8%. High profitability 4

5 and liquidity rates ensure strong position of the company on the market. This is particularly important with a view to exceptionally ambitious investment tasks planned to be completed within the next 5 years. In the past financial year assets worth almost PLN 950 million were transferred from the State Treasury to the company. As a result, the share capital of the company was increased to over PLN 3 billion. The Supervisory Board participated in all these activities as part of its area of competence. The dynamically changing operating environment GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. posed extraordinary challenges before the company in the past financial year. The enterprise faced an emergency test for its transmission system steering capability when gas supply limitations were undertaken by Ukraine. However, experience of our staff and the implemented procedures proved that the company is able to ensure a secure and stable natural gas transportation in a crisis situation. Everything that GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. has accomplished so far, allows to believe that the company will meet the challenges facing it at present, and that the execution of the current investment projects will contribute to further growth of the company, strengthening of its market position and increase of its goodwill. As the Supervisory Board, we are convinced that both the Management Board and the employees will successfully accomplish all the tasks lying ahead of the company. Yours faithfully, Jerzy Molak Chairman of the Supervisory Board Composition of the Supervisory Board*: Jerzy Molak Monika Kacprzyk-Wojdyga Włodzimierz Wolski Agnieszka Godula Zbigniew Marek Jan Matuszewski Rafał Wardziński Chairman Vice Chairman Secretary Member Member Member Member *until 22 October 2008 duties of a Supervisory Board member were performed by Ms Marzanna Kwiecień 5

6 raport roczny 07/08 Letter of the President of the Management Board Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of the Management Board I am truly pleased to present our Annual Report outlining the most important events in the activity of Gas Transmission Operator GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. in the financial year ending on 30 April In the above period the company achieved very good financial results. The shareholders equity increased by over PLN 1.2 billion. This was possible as a result of both substantial profit (nearly PLN 0.3 billion) and the inkind contribution of transmission assets by the State Treasury (over PLN 0.9 billion). The value of the company s assets exceeded PLN 5 billion, of which over 75% is funded with shareholders equity. At the balance sheet date of 30 April 2009, the value of the company s fixed assets exceeded PLN 3.7 billion. The excellent performance results, stable financial situation and the expectations coming from the economy prompted GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. to undertake intensive efforts to pursue a number of investment projects. On one hand, they are aimed at diversifying the directions of gas supply and enhancing the national energy security, on the other, they will create growth opportunities for business by increasing the gas supply potential. Jan Chadam President of the Management Board GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. is the owner of Polskie LNG, a company that has been established with the 6

7 purpose of building and operating the LNG terminal in Świnoujście. It oversees the development of the terminal, which has been recognised as an investment of strategic importance for the energy security of Poland. GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. is also the key sponsor of the project and is responsible for arranging the project financing. In addition, the company plans to undertake projects concerned with the development of system interconnections, i.e. the expansion of the Lasów interconnection point at the Polish-German border, as well as the interconnection of gas transmission systems of the Czech Republic and Poland. These investments will improve the energy security of the southern provinces and, in the future, enable increased gas transmission to other regions of Poland. In implementation of its objectives, in the years GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. plans to complete a number of investment projects related to the expansion of the domestic transmission system. By 2014 the company intends to build about 1,000 km of new gas pipelines and the investment expenditures on the transmission system expansion will exceed PLN 5 billion. The investment program comprises, among other things, the following gas pipelines: Świnoujście Szczecin, Szczecin Gdańsk, Szczecin Lwówek oraz Gustorzyn Odolanów. The company is pursuing intensive efforts to raise the financing for some of the investment projects from EU funds. The purpose of the company s official representation in Brussels is to facilitate the relations with the European Commission. In the last year GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. was the first player of the energy sector in Poland to launch the Open Season procedure, which was to aimed at assessing and confirming the demand for transmission capacity among the transmission system users. The assessment concerned the demand for gas transmission between the gas systems of Poland and Lithuania, and Poland and Denmark. Due to the fact that no requests for gas transmission through the planned interconnections were submitted, the Open Season procedure was concluded without taking any investment decision. GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. is prepared for the execution of such projects and will take again appropriate measures once the interest in new system interconnections arises in the market. In January 2009 the natural gas transmission was taking place under exceptional circumstances of interrupted natural gas supply at the delivery point in Drozdowicze at the Polish-Ukrainian border. This situation was a test for the effectiveness of the contingency procedures implemented in the company. Thanks to the experience of its staff and increased volume of gas supply through the Vysokoye delivery point, GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. maintained uninterrupted gas supply for the consumers in Poland. In the years 2008/2009 GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. implemented a modern information system (SCADA) enabling the management of the transmission network operation. The SCADA project included the alignment of IT systems that support the activities of dispatching crews in Poland. In October 2008, the company launched Data Processing Centre established to ensure secure conditions for IT systems operation. In addition, an IT system has been developed to ensure fully automated data gathering from measurement points, its preliminary verification and sharing with other IT systems and users. Owing to this solution, the company benefits from on-line access to measurement data, which leads to improved data reliability and enables the implementation of many new services. The past year was exceptional not only in terms of business success. The responsible business policy pursued by GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. became an inherent part of the European standards with regard 7

8 raport roczny 07/08 to strategic, long-term decisions and projects involving community interests and environmental aspects. The company s strategy to raise the service standards and develop the dialogue with its business partners has been reflected in the received recognitions and awards. GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. was second among the infrastructure industry players in the prestigious ranking Pearls of the Polish Economy. The Company also received the Mazovian Quality Award in the business organisations category, and was recognised among the top of the Best Employers of The successes of the past accounting year are our pride and a source of satisfaction. Yet, there are new challenges ahead of the company and its employees. The construction of the LNG Terminal, expansion of the gas pipeline network, launch of new interconnections, implementation of the ERP system, continuous efficiency improvement to name only some of the challenges expecting all of us in the nearest future. I cherish the hope that in tackling them my colleagues will find a lot of professional satisfaction and joy. At this point I would like to thank our clients and business partners for their cooperation, loyalty and trust they place in our company. In the name of the Management Board I also wish to express our recognition for the employees of the company for their commitment to the performance of their tasks, which are aimed at developing a modern organisation doing very well in the realty of market economy. With your professionalism, talent, effort and dedication we can think together about undertaking even most difficult tasks and achieving new objectives. I kindly invite you to reading this. Yours faithfully, Jan Chadam President of the Management Board 8

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10 raport roczny 07/08 Management Board*: President of the Management Board: Member of the Management Board for Technical Issues: Member of the Management Board for Investment Affairs: Jan Chadam Wojciech Kowalski Sławomir Śliwiński * Jan Chadam was appointed to the position of the President of the Management Board on 30 June Prior to this appointment, he had been a Member of the Board since 25 February Until 30 June 2009 the position of the President of the Management Board was held by Igor Wasilewski. Until 22 October 2008 Members of the Board were: Krzysztof Rogala, responsible for the company s financial affairs and Paweł Stańczak, supervising the technical area. Members of the Management Board currently holding office are Wojciech Kowalski since 15 January 2009 and Sławomir Śliwiński since 20 April 2009 respectively. 10

11 Management Board Jan Chadam Jan Chadam is a holder of a PhD degree in economics and author of numerous local and foreign publications in the field of finance and management, as well as an academic teacher working, among other things, at MBA studies. He has developed extensive experience in the management of commercial companies, specifically in corporate finance. During his professional career he has served as Financial Director, Vice President of the Management Board and President of the Management Board of Pro Futuro S.A. in Warsaw and Board Member of Elzab S.A. in Zabrze. He has also worked as Financial Director in the SIPMA Group in Lublin, President of the Management Board of SIP-MOT S.A. in Zamość, as well as Director of the Internal Audit Department in Polkomtel S.A. (the operator of the PLUS GSM mobile network). Since February 2009 he has been a Board Member, and since July 2009 President of the Management Board, of Gas Transmission Operator GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. Wojciech Kowalski He graduated from the Faculty of Mechanics at Wrocław University of Technology. He possesses building qualifications for the performance of independent technical functions in the construction industry. He completed post-graduate studies in the gas field at the Warsaw University of Technology, as well as in project management at the Warsaw School of Economics. He has taken part in many specialist courses in the field of quality management, company finances as well as project risk and feasibility studies. Wojciech Kowalski has been working in the gas industry for 22 years. From 1986, he worked in the GAZOPROJEKT S.A. Office of Gas Studies and Projects. In 1995, he was appointed Vice President of the Management Board of BSiPG GAZOPROJEKT S.A., responsible for technical and subsequently, commercial issues. He has a wealth of experience in company management, designing industrial structures, as well as investment process management in the energy and gas sector. Since January 2009 Member of the Gas Transmission Operator GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. Management Board. Sławomir Śliwiński He graduated from the Faculty of Law and Administration at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. He has also completed post-graduate studies at the University of Mining and Metallurgy in Cracow in gas distribution company management. He acquired quality auditor competence certified by both the Polish Centre for Testing and Certification and the European Organization for Quality. In 2008, he was awarded the MBA degree. Sławomir Śliwiński has held the function of President of the Management Board of the Pomeranian Gas Company Sp. z o.o. (distribution system operator from the Polish Oil and Gas Company Capital Group). Prior to that, he worked for eight years in ZRUG Toruń S.A. (contractor of construction and engineering works in the gas sector) where, among others, he was also the Management Board plenipotentiary for quality management issues, Vice President and subsequently President of the Management Board. Since April 2009 Member of the Gas Transmission Operator GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. Management Board. 11

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13 Calendar of Events 14 May 2008 Opening of the permanent representation office in Brussels. 24 July 2008 Amendments to Part II of the Transmission Network Code (TNC) approved by the President of the Energy Regulatory Office and TNC validity date determined to be until 31 December June 2008 Agreements with distribution system operators signed. 27 September 2008 Announcement of the Preliminary Market Screening for construction of new system connections under the Open Season procedure. 15 October 2008 Increase in value of share capital up to PLN 3,019,393,716 (takeover of almost PLN 950 million worth of assets being a contribution in kind from the State Treasury as a material dividend from PGNiG SA). 28 November 2008 Agreement on sales of Polskie LNG sp. z o.o. to GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. signed with PGNiG SA. 9 December 2008 Adoption of the on the impact of legal regulations on the terms of operation and development of technical linear infrastructure of the fuel and energy sector. 11 December 2008 Gas Limitation Scheme no 2/2008 approved by the President of the Energy Regulatory Office. 1 April 2009 Mazovian Quality Award GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. winner of the business organization category. 20 April 2009 Announcement of Phase I of the Open Season procedure. 7 May 2009 Tariff no 3 for Gas Transmission Services approved by the President of the Energy Regulatory Office. By virtue of its resolution of 14 April 2009 General Meeting of the Gas Transmission Operator GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. adopted a decision on the new time frame of the financial year lasting from 1 January to 31 December. With reference to the foregoing, the current financial year of GAZ-SYSTEM S.A., which started on 1 May 2009 will last until 31 December

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15 Company Profile Gas Transmission Operator GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. is an enterprise responsible for the transmission of natural gas and the management of the transmission network on the territory of Poland. GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. was awarded the status of a company of key strategic importance to the Polish economy and national energy security. Responsibilities of the company include, but are not limited to: managing network traffic in a coordinated and effective manner while maintaining the required reliability of the gaseous fuel supply and the fuels quality, ensuring non-discriminatory access to the transmission network to gas market participants, operation, repairs and expansion of the transmission network installations with due environmental protection awareness, providing every transmission, storage, distribution and LNG system operator with sufficient information to guarantee that transportation and storage of natural gas is conducted in the manner proper for secure and effective operation of the combined systems, provision of information required to obtain efficient access to the network to transmission system users. GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. employs almost 2000 people. Corporate Governance of the company is exercised by the State Treasury which owns 100% shares in the company. GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. holds a license for transmission and distribution of natural gas until Share capital of the company is PLN 3,019,393,716. GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. is the owner of the Special Purpose Vehicle Polskie LNG sp. z o.o., which was established to build and operate a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Terminal in Świnoujście. The LNG Terminal will enable diversification of the destinations of natural gas deliveries, which entails the improvement of Poland s energy security. GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. supervises the LNG Terminal building process. 15

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17 Transmission System Transmission Network Code Over 9.7 thousand kilometers of the transmission gas pipeline network is operated by Gas Transmission Operator GAZ- SYSTEM S.A bcm of natural gas was transported via this network in 2008/2009 financial year (including transmission to underground gas storage facilities and transmission of nitrogenous gas (L) calculated into high-methane gas (E)). GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. oversees also the operation of transmission system facilities which include e.g. 14 compressor stations, 56 interconnection points and 974 exit points. On 15 October 2008 the Company took over almost PLN 950 mill. worth of transmission assets as a contribution in kind from the State Treasury. Supervision of the transmission system at GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. is exercised by the National Gas Dispatching Division and Gas Dispatching Units in Branches. Owing to constant monitoring of the system operation as well as professionalism and the commitment of our specialists, the transmission of gaseous fuel on the territory of Poland occurs on a continuous basis, ensuring secure natural gas deliveries to all consumers. Transmission Network Code (TNC) sets forth the rules of rendering and use of gaseous fuel transmission services, embracing all legal and technical requirements included in the underlying regulations and provisions applicable to the transmission of gaseous fuel. This document, developed and updated by GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. ensures the safe operation of the transmission network while maintaining the highest quality standards of the services provided. The objective of TNC is to establish rules ensuring safe and reliable gaseous fuel supply to consumers and maintaining the balance between the supply and off-take of gaseous fuel from the transmission network. TNC covers the entire technical infrastructure managed by Gas Transmission Operator GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. and defines rights and obligations of participants in the gaseous fuel transmission process. TNC consists of two parts: Part I (General Conditions for Use of the Transmission System), Part II (Balancing and System Congestion Management). Full version of the document is published on our website 17

18 raport roczny 07/08 Limitation Scheme As a transmission system operator GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. is obliged to develop a limitation scheme on natural gas consumption, to keep it updated on an basis and to submit it to the President of the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) for approval. On 11 December 2008 President of URE approved the updated gas limitation scheme submitted by GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. entitled Gas Limitation Scheme no 2/2008. This document regulates inter alia the procedure for introduction of gas limitations by a transmission system operator and defines natural gas consumption volumes for the power supply levels of individual consumers. Operation of the Transmission System in Emergency Situations Transmission of natural gas in the past financial year was affected by extraordinary circumstances. In the first days of January 2009 supply of natural gas from Ukraine was interrupted. Gaseous fuel shortages were partly compensated by increased deliveries from Belarus. Simultaneously, following the request of GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. the Polish government by its decree of 6 January 2009 introduced gas consumption limitations for some consumers on the territory of the Republic of Poland. The situation posed a challenge to Gas Transmission Operator GAZ-SYSTEM S.A., verifying the efficiency of solutions contained both in the GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. Crisis Management Policy and in the guidelines to the Gas Limitation Scheme, which defined the operation framework of the transmission system in emergency situations. GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. emerged successfully from this crisis owing to operational measures at the supreme management and technical level which allowed GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. to maintain uninterrupted gas deliveries on the territory of Poland. GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. kept its customers and business partners informed about the current situation of the transmission system operation inter alia by special s published on website. Operative Management of Underground Gas Storage Facilities In order to ensure a coordinated and effective operation of network traffic and to maintain the required reliability of gas supply to consumers, GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. steers transmission system traffic and manages the operation of the underground gas storage facilities. Systemic solutions, which enable the transmission system operator to use both instruments, ensure smooth cooperation of the transmission system with the underground gas storage facilities and minimize costs to gaseous fuel consumers. GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. signed an agreement with Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo S.A. on the operative capacity management of storage facilities. With respect to the unbundling of the Storage System Operator, GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. offers an option of additional services aimed at storage capacity management for each shipper, who will be in possession of such capacities. The proposed solution is highly advantageous from the point of view of market development because it enables the operational optimization of the transmission system and the underground gas storage facilities, simultaneously ensuring a high level of safety. Optimum use of storage facilities also improves cost-efficiency and leads to reduced costs incurred by shippers and consumers. 18

19 Gas Transmission System: Słupsk Lębork Gdańsk Kamminke Świnoujście Kołobrzeg Koszalin Szczecinek Starogard Gdański Malbork Elbląg Olsztyn Ełk Suwałki Police Szczecin Mirosławiec Grudziądz Szczytno Tietierowka Mallnow Gorzów Wielkopolski Lwówek Lwówek Świebodzin Zielona Góra Gubin Piła Bydgoszcz Toruń Włocławek Mogilno Gustorzyn Włocławek Poznań Kotowo Żerków Konin Krobia Mława Płońsk Płock Mory Piaseczno Skierniewice Ostrołęka Ciechanów Rembelszczyzna Warszawa Białystok Kondratki Bielsk Podlaski Wysokoje Hołowczyce Biała Podlaska Lasów Żary Odolanów Krzywa Aleksandrowice Biernatki Jeleniów Legnica Kiełczów Dziwiszów Wrocław Jelenia Góra Ołtaszyn Ściegny Brzeg Wałbrzych Opole Nysa Kłodzko Rybnik Częstochowa Łódź Piotrków Trybunalski Radomsko Tworóg Pogoria Tworzeń Katowice Oświęcim Kraków Żory Węgrzce Bielsko-Biała Cieszyn Kielce Nowy Sącz Radom Zarzekowice Sandomierz Pogórska Wola Tarnów Łukanowice Wronów Mielec Sędziszów Puławy Lublin Kraśnik Rozwadów Leżajsk Jarosław Chełm Zamość Lubaczów Rzeszów Mirocin Maćkowice Przemyśl Jasło Hermanowice Hrubieszów Gas Transmission Pipelines: E high-methane gas Lw low-methane gas Ls low-methane gas transit pipeline of EuRoPol Gaz S.A. system network connection points compression stations Gazociągi przesyłowe : E gaz wysokometanowy nowe punkty pomiarowe Lw gaz zaazotowany Ls gaz zaazotowany E gazociąg tranzytowy EuRoPol Gaz S.A. Stan na r. Biernatki węzły systemowe Żołynia tłocznie gazu 19

20 raport roczny 07/08 Measurement of Quality and Quantity of Transmitted Gas In 2008/2009 further facilities designed to be used for analysis of the natural gas composition were installed on the network managed by GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. Process gas chromatographs were installed at interconnection points in Wronów, Rembelszczyzna, Łukanowice and Śledziejowice. New measuring stations which will replace the existing provisional settlement points are being built on the borderline of the transmission network and the network transferred to and operated by Distribution System Operators. Precise measurements of the quantity and quality of the transmitted natural gas will enable smoother settlement of the transmission services provided. Another addition is an IT system designed to ensure fully automated data collection from measurement points, preliminary verification of such data and its provision to other IT systems and users. The system enables automatic communication by means of data transmission links with all measurement points equipped with data transmission interface. The system will cover all pressure reduction and measuring stations and chromatographs. Owing to the system the company has gained an on-line access (at present with maximum gradation of 5 minutes) to measurement data. It enables not only the improvement of data reliability but also the provision of many new services such as interruptible services. Anticorrosion Protection of Gas Transmission Pipelines GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. successively implements anticorrosion programs and modernizes anticorrosion protection methods applicable to high-pressure gas pipelines, which is the essential measure influencing technical condition of the transmission network facilities. GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. uses: remote monitoring systems for cathodic protection, remote control of cathodic stations, ECDA measures involving direct assessment of the corrosion of gas pipelines dug-out in selected locations and a modern measurement technique resistance corrosimetrics which involves special corrosimetric sensors installed in various points of the gas network. In November 2007 an operation of covering the protective pipes with special insulative mass was carried out for the first time in Poland on one of the pipelines in the area of Gdańsk. In 2008 as many as 6 protection lines were filled with insulative mass in the DN 400 Toruń Gardeja gas pipeline. In the same year the first technical standard ST-IGG-0601 Protection Against Corrosion of Underground Steel Gas Pipelines. Functional Requirements and Recommendations was established with vital contribution from GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. specialists. Aerial Inspection of Gas Transmission Pipelines Control of gas pipeline routes is one of the elements of operational works undertaken by GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. to ensure the continuity of supply and secure the transportation of natural gas. Pipelines are overseen in line with the Transmission Network Operation System document by means of aerial inspection of the gas pipeline route, control of the condition of the gas pipeline route and system facilities by personal inspections on foot or by car and observation of gas flows using the SCADA system. Aerial inspections by helicopter of the gas pipeline route are carried out at least on a quarterly basis. Aerial inspection conducted 20

21 in the previous ing year enabled linear observation of the transmission system facilities along with the supporting infrastructure particularly in highly urbane locations and the monitoring of all projects carried out at a longer distance from the network (road projects, sewage development, other works) which might collide with the gas network in the future. It also proved to be an additional source of information for operational services that carry out inspections of the gas network on foot in terms of the lay of the land and the spatial location of linear facilities. SCADA IT Project In the past ing year GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. implemented state-of-the-art SCADA IT systems for traffic management in the transmission network. SCADA project involved the development of a new orderly setup for IT systems supporting dispatching services in Poland. As part of this project a new version of the Telwin software was prepared and implemented in the upgraded form in the entire company. Newly implemented systems include simulation software used for analyses of the monitoring of the system facilities. These analyses are used in the decision-making process for gas flow management in the national transmission system. Completion of the project has streamlined the activity of the dispatching services at the head office and six regional branches of GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. Data Processing Centre Data Processing Centre was launched in October The objective behind the establishment of the Centre was to ensure safe conditions for operation of IT systems across the company. The Centre is equipped with systems ensuring 24-hour power supply as well as air condition and fire-fighting systems accommodated to suit the needs of IT systems. The power supply system consisting of a voltage maintaining device and a power generating unit enables operation even during a long-term interruption in the power supply. The installed air condition systems are cuttingedge solutions on a global scale and one of the first of this kind in Poland. They enable maintenance of proper working conditions for electronic devices and the cooling of the whole premises is no longer required. Application of such a solution leads also to reduced electricity consumption and a smaller quantity of heat discharged in to the atmosphere. It is therefore a cost-efficient and an environmentally friendly solution. The Centre is operated 24 hours a day. Joint Operator Initiative In 2008 GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. along with operators of electric energy and oil transmission systems and operators of electric energy, gas and heat distribution systems appointed a Steering Committee. The first initiative of the Committee was the development of a on the impact of legal regulations on the terms of operation and expansion of technical linear facilities in the fuel and energy sector, crucial to the national energy security. The document presented problems signalled by GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. jointly with operators of transmission and distribution systems, related to the planning and completion of linear investment projects, caused by lack of land access rights necessary for their location and completion. Additionally, the contained a description of the existing technical infrastructure, its modernization needs and expansion possibilities. It identified regulations which entail a barrier or impediments to fulfillment of the statutory obligations of operators. 21