Polish Oil and Gas Company warns its clients of possible restrictions in supplies - is Poland facing shortages?
Danuta Isler reports
According to media reports, shortages may prove real still in the second half of the month and the Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG) has already warned its largest clients of possible restrictions in supplies. Experts agree that the situation is complicated not only due to frosty weather conditions but also the fact that Poland is yet to complete negotiations and sign an agreement with Russia on this year's deliveries.
According to the spokeswoman of the Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG), Joanna Zakrzewska, the delivered notifications are of a preventive nature with the company's storage tanks filled in about 65 percent. At the same time she admitted that the situation is fully dependent on the weather conditions and that the ongoing negotiations with Russia on additional delieveries are difficult.
Weather is not the only factor to be taken into consideration. The currently binding agreement with Russia stipulates that this year Gazprom will deliver a maximum of 7.5 bln cubic meters of gas to Poland which is one billion less than last year. As a result, several Polish gas companies have already inquired at the ministry of economy about the possibility of using the country's strategic gas reserves.
The date of the next round of the Polish- Russian gas negotiations is yet to be announced.