Poland would be the first country to have its gas cut off by Europe's main supplier since Moscow started what it calls a military operation in Ukraine on Feb 24. The move to cut off supplies also followed sanctions imposed by Warsaw against Russian individuals and companies.
It also did not extend its gas transit deal with Gazprom in 2020. Since then, the Russian gas provider had to take part in auctions for pipeline capacity via the Yamal-Europe pipeline from Belarus to Poland.Poland's gas supply contract with Gazprom is for 10.2 billion cubic metres per year, and covers about 50 per cent of national consumption.
Poland's energy supplies are secure, Poland's climate ministry said on Tuesday, adding that there was no need to draw from gas reserves and that gas to consumers would not be cut.With gas storage of 3.5 bcm 76 per cent-filled and as several alternative supply routes are available, Poland will not have to cut supplies to customers to cope with Gazprom supply halt, government officials said.
Only a few Russian gas buyers, such as Hungary and Uniper, Germany's main importer of Russian gas, have said it would be possible to pay for future supplies under the scheme announced by Moscow without breaching European Union sanctions.