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PM says Poland has enough reserves as Russia suspends gas supplies

26.04.2022 22:30
The Polish prime minister told reporters on Tuesday that his country had sufficient reserves and alternative supply routes after Russia said it was suspending gas supplies to Poland under a long-term contract.
Gas infrastructure in Polands southeastern Podkarpackie province.
Gas infrastructure in Poland's southeastern Podkarpackie province.PAP/Darek Delmanowicz

Mateusz Morawiecki was speaking after Poland’s state gas company PGNiG announced that Russia would stop sending gas to the country under the Yamal contract from Wednesday.

According to PGNiG, Russian energy giant Gazprom said it would halt all gas deliveries to Poland at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

‘Poland is safe’: PM

Morawiecki said Poland would not be "adversely affected by the move."

He told reporters while on a visit to Berlin: “Poland is safe when it comes to energy supplies.”

Russia demands rouble payments

Gazprom said the suspension of deliveries was a result of “PGNiG’s refusal to pay for the gas in roubles,” the Polish company announced.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last month ordered foreign buyers to pay for gas in the Russian currency or else have the deliveries cancelled, news outlets reported. 

Meanwhile, PGNiG said Gazprom was in breach of contract, adding it would take action to reinstate supplies. 

Alternative supply routes

Morawiecki told the media that Poland’s gas storage facilities were “76 percent full” and the country also had alternative sources of supply, such as Germany, the Czech Republic and the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the northwestern port of Świnoujście, according to PAP.

Moreover, a new pipeline, called the “Baltic Pipe,” is set to start delivering gas to Poland from Norway in October, potentially replacing all Russian supplies, Morawiecki said.

Climate and Environment Minister Anna Moskwa echoed Morawiecki’s assurances at a news conference in Warsaw on Tuesday evening.

Gazprom’s decision comes after Poland last month announced a plan to renounce Russian coal, gas and oil by the end of the year, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, onet.pl, Reuters