Media: there may be more details of possible Russian origin in the GIPL gas pipeline, the prosecutor’s office expands the investigation

According to investigative journalists, this investigation is expanding within the framework of an ongoing case regarding possible fraud and falsification of documents during the construction of a strategically important gas pipeline. The investigation of the case will be conducted by the Financial Crimes Investigation Service (FNTT) from July 2022. It turned out that the Czech company “Petrometal”, which issued them certificates, did not actually produce them, but issued the documents at the request of a company in the Czech Republic managed by the Russian “ChelPipe” group.

“Šiaulių dujotiekios statyba”, its former partners who contacted Alvora regarding settlements, reported that the manufacturer’s marks had been removed from the flashes. When the inspection was carried out in 2022, the information was confirmed – the MSA plant belonging to the ChelPipe group was found on the parts, and the certificates were issued as the manufacturer by another company – Petrometal, a Czech capital company – say the journalists who conducted the investigation.

Back in April, the State Energy Regulatory Board (VERT) ordered the operator of the natural gas transmission system, AmberGrid, to replace non-certified fittings in the GIPL gas pipeline. According to the market regulator, Cyrillic markings were found on non-compliant parts, as well as parts made of steel, the use of which was prohibited in the European Union (EU) at the time, and most importantly, the parts did not have documents confirming their origin and quality.

VERT also ordered the gas pipeline operator to check the remaining 899 parts installed in the gas pipeline, to submit an agreed inspection schedule to the regulator by May 31.

The portal 15min also previously announced that the suspicious parts of the gas pipeline could have been transported through Estonia from the Eterno factory in Russia.

“On October 10, 2023, the unscheduled inspection commission determined the presence of the Eterno plant’s design details by determining the actual circumstances at the Santaka gas metering and pressure regulation station. Where and under what circumstances the details came from, the commission did not investigate”, VERT commented on this situation in a comment to Elta.

The head of AmberGrid, Nemunas Biknius, said that the gas pipeline contractor Alvora must take responsibility for the installation of fittings, financing the replacement with its own funds.

Following this statement, Alvora itself appealed to the Attorney General’s Office, accusing representatives of AmberGrid and other energy institutions of defamation. The contractor claims to have provided certificates of fittings during construction, and later, at AmberGrid’s request, certificates of raw materials for parts, as well as having installed parts of higher quality steel than required in the pipeline construction contract.

The Vilnius District Court has already annulled the ruling on the 4.8 million awarded to “Alvora” on April 11. EUR funds and asset seizure.

The main gas pipeline started operating on May 1, 2022. Its installation cost a total of about 500 million. euros. About 60 percent of them funds were allocated by the European Commission, and Lithuania allocated about 116 million to this project. euros.