The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced the signing of a 1.7 billion Polish zloty (€405 million) loan agreement with Orlen’s subsidiary, Energa. As the third and last tranche of a broader 3.5-billion-zloty loan to Orlen, the money is intended for the development and improvement of Poland’s electricity grid. The financing will help modernize the infrastructure in central and northern Poland, supporting the long-term energy goals of both Poland and the European Union.
EIB Financing Supports Poland’s Energy Network
This new loan will enable Energa Operator, Orlen’s electricity distribution arm, to replace more than 4,600 kilometers of the existing grid and construct another 2,300 kilometers of power lines in Poland. This build-out will serve about 25,000 new customers on the grid. The loan will help modernize the network’s metering infrastructure, making it more efficient and better prepared for the future.
EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwinska said,”Our support to Orlen is a strategic investment in the sustainable and long-term growth of the Polish economy. This underlines our strong commitment to a genuine and fair green transition, development of modern energy infrastructure and energy security for Poland and the European Union”
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Backing EU’s Green Transition Aims
The EIB financing also aligns with the European Commission’s RePowerEU plan to curb reliance on foreign energy, fast-track adoption of clean sources such as solar and wind power, and be climate neutral by 2050. The project aligns with Poland’s desire to shift its electricity grid to become net-zero, further incorporating it into the EU’s large-scale sustainability program.
With the EIB loan backing, Energa Operator will embark on a project to construct Poland’s national grid through 11,000 kilometers of new power lines and 7,000 kilometers of underground cable by 2035. The upgrades will bring an additional 350,000 customers and connect 9 gigawatts of renewable energy sources into the grid. The expansion will increase Poland’s electricity grid installed capacity by more than 16 percent, making the grid more stable and reliable.