“PGNiG received a letter from Gazprom announcing the complete suspension of deliveries under the Yamal contract […] Currently, deliveries to customers are made in accordance with demand,” – the Polish company wrote in a statement.

In the midst of rising worries among the Polish society, the government in Warsaw reassured the public that the country “has sufficient alternative supplies and gas stores to ensure energy security.” It emphasised that is had already been planning to end the import of gas from Russia at the end of this year (at the end of the contract with Gazprom). 

In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would only accept payments in rubles for gas deliveries to certain “unfriendly countries”, including Poland. Since late February, the Kremlin has been hit with sanctions because of its invasion of Ukraine.

According to Gazeta.pl, the new payment method entered force at the start of this month, and gas importers had three weeks to adjust. However, Warsaw announced it would stick to the original terms of the agreement with Gazprom and categorically refused to pay in rubles.

According to the Aggregated Gas Storage Inventory compiled by GIE, Poland’s gas storage is filled up to over 75% of capacity, one of the highest levels in the EU. 

In order to replace Russian supplies, Poland is increasing its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US and Qatar through a terminal in Świnoujście that opened in 2015 and has also nearly completed the long-awaited Baltic Pipe, which will bring Norwegian gas to Poland via Denmark.

Image: Unsplash

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen