In brief

• Orlen has completed the expansion of the Wierzchowice gas storage facility in Lower Silesia.
• Capacity at the site rose from 1.3 to 2.1 billion cubic metres, lifting national storage to about 4.1 billion cubic metres.
• The project cost is reported as close to PLN 600 million, with some reports citing PLN 580 million.

Largest storage site grows by more than 60 percent

Orlen has completed the expansion of the Wierzchowice Underground Gas Storage facility (PMG) in Lower Silesia, the largest facility of its kind in Poland. Storage capacity at the site rose by more than 60 percent, from 1.3 to 2.1 billion cubic metres (ORLEN zakończył rozbudowę Podziemnego Magazynu Gazu Wierzchowice – wp.pl) (Największy magazyn gazu w Polsce jeszcze się powiększył. Orlen wydał 580 mln zł – WNP.pl).

National capacity up by a quarter

The upgrade lifts Poland's total gas storage capacity by about a quarter, to around 4.1 billion cubic metres (Orlen zakończył inwestycję za 600 mln zł. Wzrosło bezpieczeństwo dostaw gazu – Rzeczpospolita) (Polskie magazyny gazu zwiększają pojemność o jedną czwartą. Orlen zakończył kluczową inwestycję – Business Insider Polska). The government's stated target is 5 billion cubic metres.

Higher injection and withdrawal rates

Beyond extra volume, the site now has higher injection and withdrawal capacity. Orlen says this strengthens the continuity and flexibility of supplies to households, power generators and industry.

Why the company links it to security of supply

Orlen says the investment reinforces the resilience of the domestic gas system and improves its ability to respond to shifting market and geopolitical conditions. The company describes the project as another step toward Poland's energy independence.

Key figures

| Measure | Before | After | |---|---|---| | Wierzchowice capacity (bcm) | 1.3 | 2.1 | | National storage capacity (bcm) | - | ~4.1 | | Investment cost (PLN) | - | ~580 million |