Operations of Norway-Poland gas pipeline construction through Denmark have resumed, and the project is expected to be ready for first shipments by November this year, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in Tuesday’s press conference held in Oslo.

The construction of the gas pipeline is part of a bigger plan by the European Commission to reduce their block’s dependency on Russian gas by two-thirds by the end of this year and stop relying on Russian fuel supplies entirely by 2030.

In May 2019, the gas pipeline construction was halted in Denmark over environmental issues. However, Danish grid operator Energinet announced on Tuesday, March 1, that it had received a new environmental permit from Denmark authorities and resumed work.

According to Energinet projections, the project is expected to start operating partially from October 1, 2020, and attain full capacity by January 1, 2023. Unfortunately, the disruption of the pipeline construction in Denmark has delayed its operation start dates by three months.

“Towards the end of this year, October, November, the Baltic pipe is going to be ready,” said Mateusz, noting that at the moment, the country is fully dependent on Russian oil and gas.

Once completed, the Baltic pipe will transport 10 billion cubic meters of gas from Norway every year. In a joint appearance with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, Mateusz noted that the pipe’s full capacity is around half of Poland’s annual needs.