Polish Oil and Gas Mining (PGNiG) is investing in its own LNG ships. The first two vessels, constructed specifically for the company’s needs, will come into use in 2023. Two more units will start working in 2024, and four new gas carriers will be commissioned in 2025.

The keel has been laid at the South Korean shipyard for the construction of the second LNG ship called “Grażyna Gęsicka”, ordered by PGNiG. Earlier, the first vessel called “Lech Kaczyński” was launched successfully.

The PGNiG fleet of gas carriers will be used primarily to service long-term contracts for the purchase of liquefied natural gas from the USA. The contracts signed so far with American LNG producers provide for the supply of approx. 9 billion m3 of gas (after regasification).

“All ships ordered by the PGNiG Group will have a capacity of 174,000 m3 cubic meters of liquefied gas. This amount of LNG corresponds to 100 million m3 of gaseous natural gas. PGNiG will use gas carriers on the basis of long-term charter contracts concluded with specialized shipping companies: Knutsen OAS Shipping and Maran Gas Maritime.

Regardless of this, PGNiG has decided this year to charter three already used gas carriers. This is related to PGNiG’s intensification of LNG imports to the gas terminal in Świnoujście, in response to Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine and the crisis in the European gas market.

This year, the Group aims to use almost the entire capacity of the LNG terminal in Świnoujście, which, from 2022, can accept LNG loads corresponding to – after regasification – 6.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Using its own gas carriers allows the company to purchase gas directly in the liquefying terminals, which significantly extends the possibility of acquiring LNG.

PGNiG has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 2005. The Group deals with the extraction of natural gas and crude oil in the country, the import of natural gas to Poland, gas storage in underground gas storage facilities, distribution of gas fuels, as well as the development of natural gas and crude oil deposits in the country and abroad, and the provision of geological, geophysical and exploration services. Consolidated sales revenues of the company reached PLN 69,964 million in 2021.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński order