Brussels, 19/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - After several weeks of discussion, Poland and Russia finally agreed, on Monday 18 October, on their new gas contract which provides for Russian gas supplies to Poland to be extended until 2022, and the extension until 2019 of transit through Polish territory, via the Yamal gas pipeline, of Russian gas intended for western Europe.
Under the terms of the agreement, Russia will gradually step up gas supplies to Poland by 9.7 billion cubic metres in 2010 until 11 billion cubic metres are reached in 2012, a volume that will remain unchanged over following years, the Russian gas giant, Gazprom, states in a press release. Transit tariffs will be fixed by the company EuRoPol Gaz, which currently belongs to Gazprom and to the Polish gas company PGNiG each holding 48%, and which manages the Polish section of the Yamal pipeline. The Polish company Gaz-System will be the technical operator of the gas pipeline on the Polish section, and other external operators may also have access, the Russian gas company states.
Welcoming Monday's agreement, the European Commission indicates that it must still examine the terms and conditions. “Discussions aimed to consolidate secure gas supply to Poland and Europe, while ensuring agreements respect EU law. Talks on Sunday were very constructive. This concerns especially the independent management of the Yamal pipeline. Precise collaboration between the owner of the pipeline EuRoPol and the future TSO (transmission system operator) Gaz-System will be made in an agreement. This is being drafted at the moment. Once finalised, the Commission will examine the detailed provision of the agreement”, commented the spokesperson for Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger, Marlene Holzer. (E.H./transl.jl)