The company thus confirms reports from earlier on Tuesday about a halt in Russian exports. About 60 percent of the gas Poland imports is bought by PGNiG from Russian Gazprom. The gas is delivered via the Yamal gas pipeline through Belarus.
On April 26, Gazprom informed PGNiG of its plan to stop deliveries covered by the Yamal contract on April 27, PGNiG states. They say Poland is prepared to provide the necessary supplies from other sources.
Bulgarian Bulgargaz received the same message from Gazprom on Tuesday. Also there the taps are turned off again with one day’s notice.
– No shortage of gas
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki says the filling rate in gas storage is 76 percent. The country can thus consume reserves. With summer just around the corner, demand is also expected to decline. A halt in deliveries is therefore not expected to be an immediate problem.
– There will be no shortage of gas in Polish homes. Since day one of the war, we have made it clear that we are ready to become completely independent of Russia, assures Climate Minister Anna Moskwa.
– All deliveries to customers are carried out in line with their needs, says PGNiG.
Will have paid in rubles
Gazprom has not confirmed that exports will stop. Russian news agencies, however, quote a leader of the company who says that “Poland must pay for gas in line with the new payment procedure.”
The latest sanctions against Russia have led to demands that EU countries must pay for gas with rubles. If they do not, the taps will close. 40 percent of the EU’s gas imports come from Russia.
So far, Western countries have insisted on continuing to pay in euros or dollars.
Poland plans to halt imports of Russian gas by the end of the year. Then the agreement with Gazprom expires, and a new pipeline with Norwegian gas is put into operation. The 900-kilometer-long Baltic Pipe will supply gas via Denmark to Poland. In the long run, it should be able to cover half of the country’s needs.
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