Compromise on gas with Poland

Heads of corporations "Polish Oil and Gas Industry" (PNGP) and Gazprom agreed in Moscow on the last long-discussed issues, thus ending a ten months’ negotiations marathon between the Polish and the Russians. The most important issue, which blocked the conclusion of the agreement, was, as noted by the newspaper "Reczpospolita", the money not paid by the Russians for gas transit through Poland to Germany. As a result of recent negotiations a compromise was reached: "Gazprom" does not pay these debts, but instead PNGP will receive discounts on gas prices. However, none of the parties disclosed how much gas will be bought by Poland at a lower price and how big is the discount. According to the newspaper, we can assume that the sum should be at least $ 80 million, considering the previous dispute. The debts followed from the fact that Gazprom paid for the transit of raw materials at a specified rate, lower than the binding.

Heads of corporations "Polish Oil and Gas Industry" (PNGP) and Gazprom agreed in Moscow on the last long-discussed issues, thus ending a ten months’ negotiations marathon between the Polish and the Russians. The most important issue, which blocked the conclusion of the agreement, was, as noted by the newspaper "Reczpospolita", the money not paid by the Russians for gas transit through Poland to Germany. As a result of recent negotiations a compromise was reached: "Gazprom" does not pay these debts, but instead PNGP will receive discounts on gas prices. However, none of the parties disclosed how much gas will be bought by Poland at a lower price and how big is the discount. According to the newspaper, we can assume that the sum should be at least $ 80 million, considering the previous dispute. The debts followed from the fact that Gazprom paid for the transit of raw materials at a specified rate, lower than the binding.

According to "Rzeczpospolita" the Russian party agreed to a multi-year contract that ensures retention of the level of gas transit through Poland yamalskim pipeline. If the Moscow agreement is positively assessed by the Minister of state treasury, or the principal owner of PNGP, then taking into account previous documents, the agreement should be proved by the government. This is supposed to take place in two weeks.

The negotiations continued since March last year. This autumn at the intergovernmental level, it was agreed that Poland would buy more gas than before. Deliveries will increase from about 8 to 10,3 billion cubic meters per year. The contract will be extended for 15 years - to 2037. These agreements have caused much controversy. The opposition fears that the imports from Russia would be too large. The agreement should allay these fears, because it involves the recording, that Poland will have the opportunity at any time to reduce the purchase of raw materials by 15 percent without any financial implications.

Poland needs additional gas. The gas port in ?winouj?cie will be completed only in five years, through which the country will be able to deliver from any vendor liquefied natural gas on ships. Without additional imports from Russia, Poland would have problems starting even this year. A long period of frost caused exceptionally high demand for raw materials. Although Gazprom supplies Poland with more raw materials than it follows from the treaty, the fear for the supply of gas without the signature of the contract were so serious that the Minister of Economic Affairs has agreed to make available strategic reserves. PNGP was forced to diminish the supply of gas for chemical companies. Warnings about the limitations also received the Polish Oil Concern Orlen.