Poland Safe for Gas Supplies

The Polish Climate Minister Anna Moskwa believes there are no technical or resource obstacles in sight for Hungary to sign up to the EU oil ban against Russia.

• “We had a lot of technical talks in Poland and Hungary. We showed ready-made models of independence from oil from Russia. The Hungarians argue that it is not possible, but we have shown that it is a simple exercise similar to what Poland did.” Moskwa said in an interview with Polish news outlet Biznesalert today. She conceded that Poland’s conversations with Hungary had ended with no progress. Hungary’s opposition has hinged on money while Moskwa said “The Czech Republic and Slovakia also have doubts, but they do not want money, they want transition periods.”
• The Czech Republic and Slovakia are in discussions with Poland to import gas through the country but the connections are not suitable just now. Both countries are interested in the FSRU floating terminal in the Gulf of Gdańsk. “We are planning an FSRU with a capacity of 6 billion cubic meters, but a second FSRU can always be built there.” Adding “It remains to be decided whether it will have 6 or 12 billion cubic meters, depending on the interest of the neighbours. It is also a matter of expanding the existing and building new transmission channels that our partners from the south would need.”
• On domestic and European gas security, Moskwa said “We are safe. First of all, we have full gas storage facilities. The moment we talk, they are 94 percent full. Europe has stocks above 30 percent, which is definitely less than ours.” “Poland is secured by contracts for LNG supplies, which we already have at our disposal, i.e. some 6 billion cubic meters, at predictable fixed prices. From this point of view, we are in a better position than the countries that are now frantically looking for gas deals outside Russia.”