Poland, with nearly 100% of full gas storage facilities, an LNG terminal and a prepared Baltic Pipe, is today one of the best-prepared countries for gas supply shortages, say analysts from the Polish Economic Institute (PIE). Obtaining gas from alternative to Russian sources is still possible before winter.

Russian Gazprom is cutting off more countries from gas supplies. After suspending the transmission of the gas to Poland, Bulgaria and France, deliveries to Italy were reduced by 15%, Slovakia by 50%, and Germany by 60%. Gas supplies to the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, the Baltic states and Austria are also limited.

“Russia has once again demonstrated that, contrary to the opinion of the West, Putin is not a business partner, but an aggressor who does not respect agreements and contracts. The analysts’ scenario from the beginning of the war has materialized”, says Piotr Arak, the director of the Polish Economic Institute. “Putin, without waiting for the West to agree on the embargo on Russian resources, began to cut off access to them. Today, cooperation between European Union countries to ensure energy security and efficient gas extraction from other sources is extremely important. Western Europe must be ready for all possible scenarios, including a complete cutting off the gas from Russia”, says Piotr Arak.

In the opinion of PIE analysts, apart from Poland, the medium-term risk in the event of a complete shutdown of Russian gas supplies is relatively low in Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Italy and Greece. France covered about 1/5 of its gas demand with supplies from Russia via a pipeline from Germany and an LNG terminal. Since June 15, it has not been receiving Russian gas via the pipeline but it has increased its LNG imports from Russia since the beginning of the war. Slovakia will be able to receive the gas, at least partially, from the new gas pipeline from Poland with a capacity of almost 13 million m3 per day.

Adrian Andrzejewski order