Poland's gas supply remains secure after Gazprom halts deliveries – Lithuanian minister

VILNIUS – Poland remains secure in terms of natural gas supply after Russia's gas giant Gazprom has completely halted deliveries to the country, Lithuanian Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys said on Wednesday. 

"It appears that this [gas supply cut] is not hurting Poland much for several reasons," Kreivys told reporters.

"Poland has already filled up the storage facilities it has," he said. "Poland has a terminal, consumption is not high at the moment, and the Baltic Pipe pipeline to Norway, through which it will import most of its gas needs from Norway, is to open in October."  

Poland currently has the only LNG terminal in Swinoujscie, with a maximum annual capacity of 5 billion cubic meters. 

According to the Lithuanian minister, the gas supply systems are stable in both Poland and Bulgaria.  

Kreivys believes that gas prices may increase somewhat in the future, as Europe will phase out gas supplies from Gazprom and competition for LNG will grow. 

"In the future, as more and more countries stop using Gazprom's gas, competition for LNG will certainly increase and we can predict that gas prices may rise slightly," he said. 

According to the minister, Lithuania will help Poland with gas supplies, depending on the situation in Latvia and Estonia. 

"If we see that the situation in Latvia and Estonia is not difficult, we will probably help Poland as well. From a solidarity perspective, if Poland needs gas, it will flow to Poland," he said. 

The Gas Interconnection Poland-Lithuania (GIPL) is set to come on stream on May 1. Poland's oil and gas company PGNiG will next month import the first LNG cargo via Lithuania's Klaipeda LNG terminal that will be transported to the neighboring country through the new pipeline.