Poland to help out Ukraine amid Gazprom's energy demarche

Naftogaz and the leader of the Polish natural gas market, PGNiG, have signed a contract for urgent gas supplies following Gazprom’s decision to refuse starting supply of gas to Naftogaz, just a day after the award of the Stockholm Tribunal was handed down.

“We are prepared to increase the volume of deliveries or extend the effective term of the contract, depending on Ukrainian market demand. PGNiG can ensure stable and secure gas supplies thanks to its diversified portfolio of, which is a mix of domestic production in Poland and import supplies including regular deliveries of LNG from Qatar and USA," said Piotr Wozniak, President of PGNiG Management Board, according to the company press service.

“Energy solidarity and good cooperation between neighboring countries is our duty. Especially now that Ukraine has problems with deliveries from Russia and the demand for natural gas for household heating purposes has been on the rise due to harsh winter conditions,” Mr. Wozniak said.

Read alsoRussia's Gazprom announces termination of all contracts with Ukraine“The current situation around gas supply proves that our focus on diversification of supplies was the right decision. Thanks to our Polish partners, yet another attempt of Moscow to use gas as a political weapon against Ukraine has failed. I hope that the EU and governments of the relevant member states will consider this case when making their final decision on Nord Stream 2,” commented Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolyev.

As UNIAN reported earlier, NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine proposed a cap on gas consumption on March 3-4 due to the freezing temperatures across Ukraine and Gazprom's sudden refusal to supply gas to Ukraine as of March 1, 2018.

Against the backdrop of a defeat in the gas dispute with Ukraine heard by Stockholm Arbitration, Russian gas monopoly Gazprom moved further to kick off the procedure for the termination of contracts for transit and purchase of gas earlier signed with NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine.