What goes on in Poland on the 22nd of May.
PGNiG is considering leaving Iran. It will adapt to the EU
Reuters reports that PGNiG will withdraw from Iran, but according to our information, this is not yet decided.
After the US decision to withdraw from a nuclear agreement with Iran, companies operating in that country have been exposed to the risk of sanctions that Washington intends to restore. This is bad news for the giants, like the French Total, who have already invested in this country. The Poles have kept the reserve. PKN Orlen and Lotos Group imported trial supplies of crude oil, and PGNiG probed the potential of the Soumar deposit.
– We can not do much with a contract in Iran right now. Sanctions against Iran can be implemented at any time and no one wants to take on this risk – said the vice-president of PGNiG Maciej Woźniak to Reuters.
The company informs, however, that it „is considering” the suspension of activities in Iran. – We will adapt our position to the European Union and other European companies – PGNiG reports.
Poles were considering oil extraction from the Soumar field in cooperation with NISOC. They started a preliminary assessment of the geological potential of the deposits, but no particulars followed them. Due to the political uncertainty surrounding Iran as a result of the US decision, no progress is expected in this matter.
Minister Jacek Czaputowicz to visit Washington and New York
The chief of Polish diplomacy is on a visit to the United States. On Monday, he met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington. On Tuesday, he will chair an open debate at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in New York.
The agenda of Monday’s talks between Minister Czaputowicz and the US Secretary of State includes prospects for closer Polish-US cooperation, transatlantic relations, as well as regional and global security, including preparations for this year’s NATO summit.
On Tuesday, Poland’s top diplomat will go to New York, where he will preside over an open UNSC debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, and present the Polish position. The debate was proposed by Poland, which now holds the Security Council presidency for one month. Minister Czaputowicz will also have bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the debate.
Minister Czaputowicz’s visit is the second high-level event during the Polish presidency, following the recent debate on upholding international law attended by President Andrzej Duda. Our second presidency of the UNSC is scheduled for the second half of 2019.