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Polish Briefing 5 September, 2019 12:00 pm   
COMMENTS: Mateusz Gibała

Polish Briefing: Poland encourages Ukraine to build a pipeline to connect both countries

What goes on in Poland on the 5th of September.

Poland encourages Ukraine to build a pipeline to connect both countries

Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure Piotr Naimski commented on the Poland-Ukraine-USA gas cooperation agreement and the Poland-Ukraine Gas Pipeline project. In his opinion, this is the simplest answer to Ukraine’s demand for LNG from the USA.

– This document expresses the intention of cooperation and agreement in the event that Ukraine needs gas supplies as a result of the crisis – the minister stated. According to him, currently Poland can send up to 1,5 billion cubic meters to Ukraine annually.

– We have a project to expand this interconnector to 5-6 billion cubic meters. On the Polish side it is a simple matter, because it is about half a kilometer of gas pipeline. There is no investment decision on the Ukrainian side – said the minister.

– Ukrainians are striving to ensure that the gas they buy in the United States can reach our gas terminal and want to collect it. The simplest solution is to build the missing kilometers. The situation will be able to change more radically in 2021, when the Polish transmission system, which is currently being expanded, will be enriched with a number of coordinated investments over time – he announced. According to Minister Naimski, a real increase in the gas supply capacity through Poland to Ukraine will be possible after 2021.

The Ukrainian side has a different opinion. – A new gas pipeline is just one option. We believe that there are cheaper variants. The solution will be indicated by people who have practical experience – assessed the Secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Danyliuk during a visit to Warsaw.