Russia halts fuel provides to Poland after Warsaw refuses to pay in rubles

Russian vitality large Gazprom will cease fuel deliveries to Poland from tomorrow, Polish state vitality agency PGNiG has confirmed. The choice was made after Warsaw refused to adjust to Moscow’s calls for to pay in rubles.

Polish authorities figures have assured the general public that the nation has enough various provides and fuel shops to make sure vitality safety. It had already been planning to finish the import of fuel from Russia when its contract with Gazprom completed on the finish of this yr.

“PGNiG acquired a letter from Gazprom saying the whole suspension of deliveries below the Yamal contract,” the Polish firm mentioned in an announcement. “Presently, deliveries to clients are made in accordance with demand.”

President Vladimir Putin introduced in March that Russia would solely settle for funds in rubles for fuel deliveries to sure “unfriendly nations”, together with Poland, after Moscow was hit with sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine.

The brand new fee technique entered power firstly of this month, and fuel importers had three weeks to regulate, stories Gazeta.pl. Nonetheless, Poland has maintained that it will stick with the phrases initially agreed with Gazprom and refused to pay in rubles.

“Poland is sticking to the preparations” regardless of “threats from Russia”, mentioned Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki right now, echoing feedback by PGNiG’s CEO, Jerzy Kwiecinski, who mentioned that the contractor can not change the strategy of the fee at will in the course of the time period of the contract.

As Gazprom confirmed that it was chopping off provides, local weather minister Anna Moskwa and minister for state belongings Jacek Sasin each assured that Poland’s fuel storage amenities are three quarters full and that the nation has numerous different sources of fuel.

Poland’s fuel storage is stuffed as much as over 75% of capability, one of many highest ranges within the EU, in line with the Aggregated Fuel Storage Stock compiled by GIE.

To be able to substitute Russian provides, Poland has sought to extend imports of liquefied pure fuel (LNG) from Qatar and the United States by way of a terminal in Świnoujście that opened in 2015 and has additionally virtually accomplished work on the Baltic Pipe, which is able to carry Norwegian fuel to Poland through Denmark.

“Poland has the mandatory fuel reserves and sources of provides, which defend our safety,” mentioned Moskwa. “For years now we have efficiently turn out to be impartial from Russia.”

After the invasion of Ukraine, the Polish authorities accelerated its plans to wean itself off Russian vitality. Final month it introduced what it described as “probably the most radical plan in Europe”, which is able to entail ending coal, fuel and oil imports from Russia this yr.

Earlier right now, the federal government additionally introduced that it was introducing sanctions in opposition to 50 Russian and Belarusian people and entities, together with Gazprom in addition to different corporations and businesspeople related to the vitality sector