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Orlen to seek compensation from Russia for halting oil supplies

06.03.2023 15:00
Polish state-owned oil and gas company Orlen will seek penal damages after Russia's Tatneft suspended oil supplies at the end of February.
Daniel Obajtek.
Daniel Obajtek.PAP/Marcin Gadomski

“Russia stopped pumping oil to Poland after President Joe Biden's visit. We will now take legal action and pursue claims”, Orlen CEO Daniel Obajtek said on Monday in an interview with private broadcaster Radio Zet.

“Everything is in contracts I cannot talk about”, Obajtek added. “We will definitely seek compensation as part of our claims”.

Russia stopped oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline to Poland on February 25, one day after the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Right after the Russian move, the Polish company told state news agency PAP that it was prepared for such an eventuality, and that deliveries would continue via tankers.

According to Orlen, Russian oil satisfied only about 10 percent of its demand since it decided in early February not to extend the previous contract with Russian oil giant Rosneft.

Deliveries were made only by pipelines and were not covered by international sanctions, Orlen added.

Orlen's only remaining contract with Russian oil supplier Tatneft expires at the end of 2024. However, imports may be stopped sooner if subject to EU sanctions, the company said.

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Source: Radio Zet, PAP