Croatia has finished construction of the Zlobin-Bosiljevo gas pipeline and initiated work on the Lucko-Zabok pipeline, as part of a broader effort to bolster infrastructure supporting the expansion of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, gas transmission system operator Plinacro announced Friday.

The 58-kilometer (36-mile) Zlobin-Bosiljevo pipeline, costing 140 million euros ($153 million), will increase gas transportation capacity from the LNG terminal on Krk Island from 2.9 billion to 3.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) annually, Plinacro said.

Construction of the pipeline, which began Nov. 20, 2023, was completed by a local consortium led by Monter Strojarska Montaza. Plinacro said the pipeline will enhance Croatia's gas supply security and facilitate increased gas transit to Hungary and Slovenia.

Simultaneously, construction has begun on the 36-kilometer (22-mile) Lucko-Zabok pipeline. The project, estimated to cost 78 million euros ($85 million) and expected to be completed within 15 months, will increase gas transit capacity to Slovenia sevenfold.

Two additional main pipelines, Bosiljevo-Sisak and Sisak-Kozarac, are planned under the same project. The total investment for the four pipeline projects is 533 million euros ($582 million), financed through the European Union-sponsored national recovery and resilience plan.

Upon completion, the new pipelines will increase Plinacro's capacity servicing the LNG terminal from 2.9 bcm to 6.1 bcm per year.

The floating LNG terminal on Krk Island, operational since January 2021, delivers natural gas to Croatia’s national transmission network, which is connected to EU members Slovenia, Italy and Hungary, as well as non-EU members Serbia and Montenegro.

Plinacro stated that the construction of the four new pipelines is expected to contribute to lowering gas prices for consumers in Croatia.