Croatia has completed construction of the Zabok–Lucko trunk gas pipeline, a project valued at around €80 million. The upgrade is described as one of the most significant recent changes to the country’s gas transmission network. Plinacro said the new infrastructure is expected to improve system flexibility and increase capacity for gas flows toward Slovenia and other neighboring markets.
EU funding and scope of construction works
The project was financed through the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. It forms part of a wider strategy linked to expanding the LNG terminal on Krk Island and modernizing Croatia’s gas infrastructure. Construction activities included pipe procurement, installation of the transmission line and associated facilities, and system testing.
Work also covered resolution of property and land access issues along the pipeline route. The project was completed on schedule and within its planned budget, according to the available information.
Technical challenges along rivers, railways and motorway crossings
Engineers reported technical challenges during construction, particularly in sections where the pipeline was installed beneath the Sava and Krapina rivers. Additional difficulties were associated with crossings under railway lines and a major motorway.
Plinacro said much of the route followed an existing gas corridor, which helped limit additional land use and environmental disruption. The alignment was intended to reduce impacts while delivering the new transmission connection.
Link to wider Plinacro network expansion and capacity targets
Plinacro stated that the Zabok–Lucko section is part of a broader investment program. The program includes the already completed Zlobin–Bosiljevo pipeline, alongside segments from Bosiljevo–Sisak and Sisak–Kozarac, which are still under construction.
Once all planned upgrades are finished, transport capacity toward Slovenia is expected to reach around 1.5 billion cubic meters per year. Flows toward Hungary could rise to as much as 3.5 billion cubic meters annually, depending on system conditions.
LNG terminal volumes and regional transit role
Plinacro also said the new pipeline will help accommodate higher gas volumes from the Krk LNG terminal. The operator added that it will further strengthen Croatia’s role as a regional energy transit hub.
