Croatia’s gas transmission system has been significantly expanded following the successful integration of two major pipeline sections, completed after a carefully coordinated four-day shutdown. The newly constructed Zabok–Lučko and Kozarac–Sisak pipelines have now been fully connected to the national grid, with all works finalized within the planned 96-hour interruption window.
The Zabok–Lučko section was connected at the Lučko gas hub, while the Kozarac–Sisak line was tied into the existing Zagreb East–Kutina pipeline near the Kozarac node. The operation was overseen by system operator Plinacro, with works carried out by Monter and other contractors.
During the shutdown, extensive safety and environmental procedures were implemented. Natural gas was first evacuated from the system in line with strict methane emission regulations, after which the infrastructure was filled with nitrogen to ensure safe working conditions. Once the connections were completed, the system was gradually recommissioned, with nitrogen replaced by natural gas and pressure restored to normal operating levels.
Executing the works simultaneously at two separate locations required complex system coordination but helped avoid additional service interruptions. During the maintenance period, gas inflows from the LNG terminal on Krk were temporarily halted, while the southern part of the network relied entirely on domestic production from the northern Adriatic. At the same time, nearly 90 kilometers of pipeline were isolated from the system.
Despite the scale and complexity of the operation, the project was completed without unexpected disruptions, marking an important step in strengthening the resilience and flexibility of Croatia’s gas transmission infrastructure.
