REUTERS
It is noted that in 2010, the government failed to improve the terms of gas imports despite significant concessions made to Russia
Loss of profits from gas transit via Poland as a result of energy talks in 2008-2010 gave Russia's energy giant Gazprom nearly PLN 1 billion as a "gift," according to Polish government envoy on strategic energy infrastructure Piotr Naimski.
On Monday, the Supreme Audit Office declassified its 2013 report on gas contracts from 2006-2011. The Office revealed irregularities in the activities of the then-Minister of Economy, Waldemar Pawlak, on agreeing gas contracts with Gazprom, PAP news agency reported.
Besides the actual loss of profits, the unfavorable deals concluded in 2008-2010 caused loss of control over Europolgaz, consolidation of energy dependence on Russia, and suspension of gas diversification, Naimski states.
It is noted that in 2010, the government failed to improve the terms of gas imports despite significant concessions made to Russia. As a result, PGNiG's prices grew 10% a year. In 2009, Gazprom was relieved of the obligation to pay the Polish Europolgaz at least $300 million for gas transmission in 2006-2009, according to the report.
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"PLN 25m was also lost, awarded by the Arbitration Court in Moscow to PGNiG, which we gave up," it was calculated.
As a result of these contracts - Europolgaz's profit from transporting 30 billion meters of gas over 660 km in Poland has been limited to a ridiculous PLN 21 million, which is one hundredth of what Ukrainians charge for transit via their transit system, which meant that the Russians have the right to send gas through Poland for free," said Naimski.
"The government received such signals, but it did not react. We lost the transit," Naimski said.
The official called for a review of declassified documents and analysis of the case of gas transit contracts.