Connection of biomethane producers

When the Customer builds the part of the transmission system necessary for the connection

When the TSO builds the part of the transmission system necessary for the connection

• In order to ensure a smooth cooperation, the TSO shall assign a project manager to the Customer who shall accompany the Customer throughout the project and ensure coordination between the different departments of the TSO and the responsible staff. The Customer shall be able to request the project manager for assistance or advice on any issue. Accordingly, the Customer shall appoint a qualified project manager from the Customer’s side.
• The Customer shall inform the TSO of the milestones and timelines for the execution of the essential works planned for the project (submit a plan) within 30 calendar days from the signature of the connection service agreement, and shall fulfil other preconditions of the connection service agreement (one of which shall be the submission of a performance security, i.e. a deposit or bank guarantee).

• In order to ensure a smooth cooperation, the TSO shall assign a project manager to the Customer who shall accompany the Customer throughout the project and ensure coordination between the different departments of the TSO and the responsible staff. The Customer shall be able to request the project manager for assistance or advice on any issue. Accordingly, the Customer shall appoint a qualified project manager from the Customer’s side.
• The Customer shall pay the first instalment of the preliminary connection fee. 

When the Customer builds the part of the transmission system necessary for the connection

When the TSO builds the part of the transmission system necessary for the connection

The Customer shall choose a qualified designer

• The Customer shall choose a qualified designer who shall draw up the technical design, the technical working design and conclude a contract with him. A turnkey contract or two separate contracts for the design service and the construction works can be concluded.

Download the recommended Model Contract Work Agreement here (in Lithuanian).

Amber Grid shall authorise the designer

The developer shall be authorised by the TSO to represent the TSO in relations with third parties and carry out all actions and formalities on behalf of the TSO to the extent that the Law on Construction and other legislation regulating spatial planning, design and construction require the preparation of a construction design, its coordination, the organisation of the expert examination of the design, the supervision of the implementation of the design, and any other related actions, and the obtaining of construction permits on behalf of the TSO.

The designer shall prepare the technical/working design and obtain the building permit

• The development of the technical design shall start with the agreement of the schematic diagram between the TSO and the designer. Once the technical working design has been prepared by the designer, it shall be submitted to the parties concerned for coordination. The TSO shall reserve the right to commission expert reports to assess the technical working design prepared by the designer.
• The Customer shall prepare a design for both its part of the biogas production facility and the part of the TSO system and associated structures that require development in order to connect the Customer’s biogas production facility to the TSO gas transmission system. Separate building permits must be obtained for designs of the systems of the Customer and the TSO.
•  To advice to make the design coordination process as smooth as possible:

1. choose designers who have previous experience of work on gas pipelines;
2. the designer to prepare a single overall layout drawing at the initial design stage showing the principal solutions and preliminarily agree on the principal solutions with the TSO;
3. if different designers work on different parts of the design, the Customer shall coordinate the parts of the design(s), and seek that the designers coordinate their actions with each other before submission of the the design to the TSO.

• The Customer must make sure that the municipality has involved the National Energy Regulatory Council (along with other relevant authorities) in the approval of the building permit and that the Council’s approval has been obtained.
• The Customer shall inform the TSO upon receipt of the building permit.

The Customer shall choose a qualified contractor and equipment supplier

• The Customer shall choose qualified contractors to carry out the construction works (if not already contracted together with the design works), and also choose suppliers of equipment and materials accordingly and conclude contracts with them.

• The TSO shall carry out public procurement procedures to procure design and construction works for the part of the transmission system required for connection 
• Upon the award of the procurement, the Customer shall pay the second instalment of the preliminary connection payment

When the Customer builds the part of the transmission system necessary for the connection

When the TSO builds the part of the transmission system necessary for the connection

• The Customer shall use contractors to carry out the construction works in accordance with the legal requirements. The technical supervision of the works shall be carried out by the designated staff of the TSO. The TSO shall carry out the maintenance only on the transmission system extension part. It is the Customer’s responsibility to ensure that the conditions to ensure control of the contractors are in place.

• The design and construction work on the transmission system, including the preparation of the connection point to connect the Customer’s system, is organised and coordinated by the TSO.
• The design and construction of the part of the Customer’s system to be connected shall in all cases be organised by the Customer.

When the Customer builds the part of the transmission system necessary for the connection

When the TSO builds the part of the transmission system necessary for the connection

• It is important to plan well in advance (it is recommended to plan and agree with the company carrying out the hot tapping works and the TSO at least six months in advance). Once the contractor has successfully completed the tests at the tapping site, the interconnection of the systems shall start.

• Testing of the as-built transmission system and
• Arrangements shall be made for third parties to cut into the existing pipeline and connect the systems.

When the Customer builds the part of the transmission system necessary for the connection

When the TSO builds the part of the transmission system necessary for the connection

• Construction shall be considered complete when:

- the National Energy Regulatory Council has issued certificates* for the technical inspection of the technical condition of the energy installations for both the Customer’s Site and the new part of the TSO system;

- a Construction Completion Certificate** has been received;

- debugging works on the commissioning of installed equipment have been carried out.

• The TSO shall provide the necessary authority for the legal registration of the site. The property registration documents and all other documentation shall be forwarded to the TSO.
• Upon proper fulfilment of all the terms of the Connection Service Contract, the TSO shall return to the Customer the performance security provided by the Customer.

• Construction shall be considered as complete when all physical works have been completed, the certificate* issued by the National Energy Regulatory Council has been obtained, all necessary tests and trials have been carried out, and the completion certificate has been obtained.  
• Upon completion of the works, the Customer shall pay the final part of the connection fee (the difference between the preliminary calculated fee and the actual costs incurred by the TSO for the connection). If there is an overpayment, the TSO shall refund to the Customer the overpaid part of the connection fee accordingly.