The project assumes the construction of medium pressure distribution pipelines in the towns of Olszanica and Uherce Mineralne, which, in addition to connecting recipients in the area of project implementation in the long term, will allow gasification of further areas towards the city of Ustrzyki Dolne and other towns from districts: Leski and Bieszczady. The project will result in an intelligent medium pressure gas distribution network with a length of 12.81 km. The need to implement the Project stems from the fact that in the area of the project "Expansion of the gas network in Olszanica and Uherce Mineralne" there is a poorly developed gas distribution network, limiting the access to gas fuel for residents and entities operating in this area. The problems are described in the Feasibility Study annexed to this proposal in Chapter 3.1.2. The project contributes to the development of smart gas grids, as well as their growing importance in the modern, green energy system in the area of impact of the Project. Additional benefits of the project will be: • improvement of the technical condition and development of smart gas networks ensuring the reliability of gas supplies for 8 000 customers located in the area of impact of the Project, • increasing the efficiency of gas supplies by reducing losses related to the possibility of failures, • improving the investment attractiveness of municipalities in which the Project will be implemented by increasing the connection potential both for new RES generation sources and for new customers. • creating the possibility of decommissioning coal-fired energy sources by connecting new customers. • ensuring energy security for the economy through the implementation of the Project and increasing the volume of decarbonised gases transported and distributed, e.g. biomethane, • increasing the use of smart functionalities (so-called smart grids) in distribution networks – thanks to the functionalities included in the Project 4, In addition, the project aims to meet the requirements of a low-carbon economy and to enable the active participation of the future consumer in the energy market. The measures taken as part of the development project will contribute to increasing the share of gas transported through the distribution network in the energy balance. The project to expand the gas network in Olszanica and Uherce Mineralne is part of the European Fund’s strategy for Infrastructure, Climate and Environment 2021-2027 to achieve the smart grid standard. Many of the existing distribution functionalities of the gas network, operated in Olszanica and Uherce Mineralne, fulfil the conditions leading to the ‘de-smartisation’ of that system. Investments carried out in the project will be another step on the way to achieving full functionality of the smart grid. In the longer term, the implementation of the investment project will enable the connection to the gas network of approximately 8,000 customers from the following districts: Lesko and Bieszczady, including the city of Ustrzyki Dolne. Changing energy carriers from solid fuels to gaseous fuel is an important element of the smart use of gaseous fuels, as it contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, enables customers, including consumers, to optimise their energy consumption, allows customers, including consumers, to actively participate in the energy market with the possibility to choose a fuel and choose a seller of that fuel. Customers connected to the gas network will be able to use gaseous fuel comprehensively, including the use of "smart" methods of using gaseous fuels in such devices as: gas heat pumps, cogeneration, micro cogeneration, gas air conditioning, dual fuel gas/electricity equipment, transport using compressed CNG at the customer.