Monika Darnobyt, Grupa Azoty’s press spokesman, in response to Russia’s decision to completely suspend gas supplies to Poland said that the current deliveries to the Grupa Azoty Group companies are progressing smoothly, and production is carried out at the planned level. The Azoty companies have prepared plans and operational scenarios in the event of disruptions or limitations in natural gas supplies.
Grupa Azoty is the largest chemical concern in Poland and one of the largest in the European Union. It is the second largest producer of nitrogen fertilizers and compound fertilizers in the EU.
The four main plants of the Azoty Group use natural gas mainly in the fertilizer production process. In recent years, the consumption of natural gas has remained at a constant annual level of approximately 2-2.3 billion m3. The scale of consumption makes Grupa Azoty the largest Polish consumer of natural gas. Natural gas also accounts for over 70% of fertilizer production costs.
A month ago, despite the difficult situation caused by the then rising gas prices, the company assured that there would be no shortage of fertilizers for Polish agriculture.
Already in the second half of 2021, observing the increased demand for fertilizers on the domestic market, Grupa Azoty decided to limit its supplies to foreign markets and redirect its products to the domestic market, the company informed in mid-March.
The companies belonging to the Grupa Azoty have prepared operational plans and scenarios in the event of disruptions or limitations in natural gas supplies.
The Grupa Azoty also announced that natural gas supplies to its production plants are carried out under an agreement with Polish Oil and Gas Mining – PGNiG.
“Poland can obtain gas from various directions, including through gas connections on the western and southern border and the LNG terminal in Świnoujście. The balance sheet is complemented by domestic gas production and high fuel reserves stored in Polish gas storage facilities”, emphasizes Grupa Azoty.
Adrian Andrzejewski