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During a press conference, Krzysztof Szczerski, chief of the President’s Cabinet said that one of the subjects at the Three Seas Initiative forum will be energy security, including gas supply security.
“We do not have to ask, because as far as we understand the US administration’s declarations, it is skeptical about the project. This is why we are not asking them to change their position (…). We are just presenting our opinion, which in this case is the same: we believe that the Nord Stream 2 project is bad for Europe’s energy security, for the European gas market and for the unity of Europe,” Szczerski explained.
Nord Stream 2
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline will have a capacity of 55 bcm a year. If things go according to plan, the project will be completed at the end of 2019. Its proponents claim that it will provide Western Europe with cheap gas. While its critics, including Poland, warn that it will solidify Gazprom’s position in Central and Eastern Europe, block diversification and damage the profitability of the LNG terminal and other infrastructure used to transport non-Russian gas.
“This is about creating a certain network of mutual energy links in the region. The key role is played by the LNG terminal. Poland is a leader of diversification,” Szczerski said.
Szczerski also commented on President Trump’s appearance on the Three Seas Initiative summit. He stated that during the President’s private meetings with Mr. Trump, Andrzej Duda will be accompanied by Witold Waszczykowski, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antoni Macierewicz, Minister of Defense and Piotr Naimski, Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure.
When asked whether LNG deliveries to Poland will be discussed, the Minister replied affirmatively. “The result of the negotiations on US LNG deliveries to Poland has to be economically satisfactory for us. I will encourage Mr. Woźniak (CEO of PGNiG – ed.) to negotiate in a way that will allow us to diversify our sources, to buy gas at a good price at a good time and of good quality,” Szczerski replied to BiznesAlert.pl’s journalist.
“Business negotiations will take place simultaneously with Donald Trump’s visit in Warsaw. It is important that the first test delivery showed that the trade was technologically possible and that the negotiations were economically justified. I had the honor to announce the first gas delivery during my visit in Washington. Today we are continuing this at a larger scale. This may become another element of Poland’s energy security. Both, President Duda and representatives of the government are saying that our goal is to make sure that Poland will be able to choose with whom it wants to sign gas contracts, instead of being forced into signing them,” he concluded.
“The talks with Mr. Trump will be based on two foundations: economy and security, including cooperation regarding energy security. The cooperation has to be mutually beneficial,” he stressed.
Polish Press Agency
