There is no need for Poland to extend its 2022 gas contract with Russian Gazprom, according to government plenipotentiary for strategic energy infrastructure, Piotr Naimski.
In the context of moving away from coal-based energy, Naimski admitted that Poland will have to replace its coal energy sources with gas. He explained that the amount of gas being used in Poland will grow by 50 percent by 2030.
He was confident that Poland does not intend to become dependent on Russian supply and will not extend its contract with Russian Gazprom when it expires on Dec. 31, 2022.
Naimski believes that the current plans to construct additional entries into the Polish gas system will allow for the introduction of several gas suppliers other than Russia.
In this case, he pointed to the Baltic Pipe project, confirming that everything points to the pipeline being active on Oct. 1, 2022. He indicated that the recent issues associated with environmental problems with the pipeline have been resolved by Denmark.
“We should be positive at this time. It seems that it will be ready next year and completed on time. This means that we are in control of the situation,” he said.
Owing to the technical ability to transfer gas from the West, Poland will have access to another source in the form of the European market on the commodity exchange. Poland will be able to outright purchase the gas it needs.
“We are at the final stage of fulfilling our strategy to diversify the directions and sources of gas supply for Poland. This is the goal of our operations, and I am convinced that by the end of 2022 we will be able to say that we have achieved this goal,” said minister Naimski.
The Baltic Pipe is a strategic project designed to create a new path for liquified natural gas supply from Norway to Polish and Danish markets and other end users in neighboring countries. The pipeline will be able to transfer 10 billion cubic meters of gas annually to Poland and 3 billion cubic meters from Poland to Denmark.
Title image: Baltic Pipe gas line under construction. (source: Saipem-Gaz-System)
