Poland’s flagship LNG project in Gdańsk has hit its first serious snag, raising fresh doubts about an already tight construction schedule. According to reporting in Puls Biznesu, part of the steel piles destined for the offshore section of the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) terminal has failed quality checks, forcing the contractor to replace key structural elements before offshore works can proceed.

The investor, state-owned gas transmission operator Gaz-System, insists the timetable remains intact. But within the construction industry, many now say delays are more likely than the company is willing to admit.

Strategic LNG Hub Under Pressure

The Gdańsk FSRU terminal is one of the most important energy investments currently underway in Poland. Once operational, it is expected to boost the country’s regasification capacity by more than 6 billion cubic metres of LNG per year, significantly strengthening energy security for Poland and the wider Central and Eastern European region. GAZ-SYSTEM: Gaz ziemny, Gazociągi+1

That strategic role explains why every technical irregularity draws immediate attention. The latest controversy centres on a batch of steel piles — fundamental elements designed to anchor the mooring platform on which the FSRU vessel itself will be stationed.

Quality control procedures revealed that part of the delivered piles did not meet the required technical standards. Without compliant piles, the consortium cannot safely begin critical offshore construction works.

The supplier is a Turkish–Polish consortium made up of GAP İnşaat, Unitek İnşaat and Fabe Polska, which is responsible for the entire marine section of the project, including the mooring jetty and subsea pipeline linking the terminal with the national transmission grid. GAZ-SYSTEM: Gaz ziemny, Gazociągi+1

Gaz-System: Quality Controls Worked, Schedule ‘Unaffected’

Gaz-System is trying to calm the debate, framing the incident as a sign that its oversight mechanisms are functioning as intended.

“In this specific case, quality control worked as it should — the defects in the anchoring piles were identified before they were submitted for acceptance,” company spokesperson Iwona Dominiak told Puls Biznesu (as cited in Polish media).

She also stressed that the problem “will in no way affect the timetable or the cost of Gaz-System’s investment, nor the quality of the infrastructure being built.” The company has not, however, specified how quickly compliant replacement piles can be manufactured, transported and installed — a key question in such a complex marine project.

Industry Voices Warn: Delays Look Increasingly Likely

Despite the official assurances, leading representatives of Poland’s construction sector are openly sceptical.

“We have been receiving signals about possible delays in the implementation of the FSRU project. If they are confirmed, completing the marine part of the terminal by the end of 2027 will become unrealistic,” warned Damian Kaźmierczak, vice president of the Polish Construction Employers’ Association, in comments quoted by the business daily.

Kaźmierczak also criticised the choice of contractor. In his view, entrusting critical energy infrastructure to a consortium led by a Turkish firm runs counter to political rhetoric about “repolonising” the economy and strengthening domestic control over strategic assets. Similar concerns had already been raised earlier this year, when Gaz-System awarded a 1.1 billion złoty contract for the marine part of the project to the GAP-led consortium, bypassing several major Polish builders. Gazeta Prawna+1

These remarks echo a broader criticism: that engaging firms from outside the European Union increases the risk of supply-chain disruptions, delays and inconsistent quality standards. Henryk Orczykowski, CEO of Stalprofil, previously cautioned that sourcing key materials from third countries “does not guarantee their quality” and may complicate on-time delivery.

Third-Country Risks No Longer Theoretical

For months, experts have warned that relying on non-EU suppliers for such a complex, offshore-heavy project carries elevated risk. Those warnings now appear to be materialising.

In a project where the marine phase is particularly sensitive — involving pile driving, construction of a mooring jetty several kilometres offshore and installation of a subsea pipeline — even minor quality deviations can cascade into substantial delays. If piles do not meet strict specifications, they simply cannot be driven into the seabed, and all subsequent activities are pushed back.

Industry representatives emphasise that this is not just a theoretical planning issue. At a time when Europe is racing to diversify gas supplies and expand LNG import capacity, any delay to a major terminal like Gdańsk has wider implications for regional energy security.

Will the FSRU Start on Time?

Officially, the schedule remains unchanged: the offshore section of the terminal is supposed to be completed by the end of 2027, with the FSRU itself — being built at a Korean shipyard — expected to arrive in Gdańsk in late 2027 and commercial operations to start in 2028. trojmiasto.pl+1

Experts, however, are increasingly doubtful that this timeline can be maintained without slippage. They argue that the defective piles may be only the first visible symptom of deeper challenges in logistics, supervision and coordination between the investor, contractor and overseas suppliers.

For now, Gaz-System maintains that construction is progressing according to plan and that the issue has been contained. The coming months will show whether that confidence is justified — or whether the concerns voiced by the construction industry and previous warnings about third-country contractors will translate into tangible delays on Poland’s most important new LNG gateway.

If the schedule does slip, the consequences would go far beyond a single project’s balance sheet, potentially affecting Poland’s long-term diversification strategy and its role as a regional gas hub.