Poland announced to stop importing Russian gas

Along with Bulgaria and Finland, Poland refuses to pay for Russian gas in rubles under a new mechanism that Moscow introduced at the end of March. RT on May 23 quoted Mr. Piotr Naimsky, Commissioner for Strategic Energy Infrastructure of Poland, as follows: “After 30 years, it can be said that the relationship in the gas industry between Poland and Russia has ended. “.

According to the official, the section of the Yamal – Europe pipeline passing through Poland, which is used to transport gas from Russia, can be switched to transporting supplies from Germany.

Gaz-System’s gas station in Rembelszczyzna, near the capital Warsaw – Poland at the end of April 2022. Photo: AP

According to the radio RT, many European energy companies have complied with the new Russian payment mechanism. Earlier this month, the European Union (EU) updated guidelines so that businesses in the bloc can buy Russian gas in rubles without violating sanctions aimed at Moscow.

As for Poland, Russia’s Gazprom stopped shipping gas to the country at the end of April, after Polish energy company PGNiG shook its head at the idea of ​​paying in rubles. Next, Poland receives gas also from Russia, but from Germany, – Gazprom said.

This information is reported by the news agency Bloomberg (USA) confirmed. Specifically, at the time of 1 week after being cut off from shipping by Gazprom, Poland still received when burning from Russia, but this is the amount of gas ordered by buyers in Italy and France and transported through ice pipelines. through Poland.

Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said Poland was supported by its EU ally by reversing the flow of shipping. In addition to Italy and France, Germany also used this method to “supply” Poland. According to Kupriyanov, Poland transfers part of the gas it receives to its storage tanks, which are already 80% full. This is quite high compared to the EU’s overall rate of 36%, according to data from the European Gas Infrastructure Association.

Previously, Gazprom warned that it would reduce the amount of gas that is transshipped through countries supplying Poland, but it is not clear how Gazprom’s real response is now.