The European Commission on Wednesday opened a call for gas and electricity projects, including LNG terminals, to be submitted as candidates for the third EU projects of common interest (PCI) list.
According to the Commission’s notice, the list will be drawn up by the end of 2017, with the deadline for applications being 22 January 2017.
PCIs are key infrastructure projects that help EU countries to physically integrate their energy markets, enable them to diversify their energy sources, and contribute to bringing to an end the energy isolation some of them are facing.
Most PCIs are electricity and gas projects including LNG terminals, energy storage projects, electricity transmission lines, and gas pipelines that connect EU countries.
The first list of PCIs was created in 2013 and the second in 2015, European Commission said, noting that the projects can benefit from accelerated permit granting procedures, improved environmental assessments, access to EU financing and other advantages.
Projects must be included in the Ten-Year Network Development Plans (TYNDP) developed by the European Networks of Transmission System Operators for electricity (ENTSO-E) and gas (ENTSOG).
This call for applications will close at midnight on 22 January 2017.