Poland joined a group of European countries which had fallen victim to the Russian and Ukrainian gas dispute and had their deliveries through Ukraine halted. As imports are now flowing in only through the pipeline coming from Belarus many Polish experts and politicians wonder whether once again gas deliveries turned out to be a political tool in the hands of Russia and what the economic implications of such a situation might be. 
 
The suspension of gas from Ukraine is not as problematic as in Slovakia, which declared a state of emergency, but no one doubts that the situation is serious as 40% of Poland's gas imports come from Russia. There is reportedly enough gas stored in Poland’s underground storage tanks and the deputy PM and economy minister Waldemar Pawlak assured today that there is no danger of a gas crisis in this country.

A similar situation happened in the winter of 2006, however, and many politicians hailed it a politicial crisis for the whole of Europe. Speaking for Polish Radio this morning Stanislaw Stasiak, the head of the National Security Bureau called it a part of a brutal political game. Energy experts, however, view the crisis not as a political but economic one and talk about urgent need for the diversification of Polish gas and oil imports. Some suggested connecting Polish gas system to the European network, e.g. to tap into Norway's supplies. Others point to the mix of coal, gas, nuclear energy and wind power as a solution to the problem.

President Lech Kaczynski is meeting his Ukrainian counterpart Victor Yuschenko to discuss the situation on January 14 in the southern resort of Wisla.

A governmental regulation on curbing gas exploitation by industrial units across the country is coming info force tonight. 

Click on the audio icon to listen to the report by Danuta Isler.