Poland to wean itself off Russian gas in 3 to 4 years: PM

In an interview with the Polska Times daily, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said: “In three to four years, Poland will become fully independent of gas supplies from the East.”

Morawiecki argued that his conservative government’s approach to energy security was in contrast to that of Poland’s previous government, led by the centrist Civic Platform (PO) party, which he said was “planning to tie us to Russia with a gas contract until 2037.”

Morawiecki said in the interview that his government was focusing on stepping up gas deliveries to an LNG terminal in the northwestern port of Świnoujście and on developing a new floating terminal for liquefied natural gas in the Bay of Puck.

“In addition, we are building a gas pipeline from Norway—the Baltic Pipe,” he said, adding that Poland was effectively bolstering its energy security.

Asked whether Poland’s energy cooperation with the United States meant that the Americans would help his country build its first nuclear power plant, Morawiecki replied: "I see a lot of room for cooperation in terms of both nuclear power and gas."

When asked about a date when Poland's nuclear power plant will be built, Morawiecki said the plan was at a stage of analyses and public consultations.

“It is difficult for me to give a specific date; we want to use the most modern technology, but we do not want to force any model against public consent,” he said in the interview, which was published on Friday.

Energy Minister Krzysztof Tchórzewski told public broadcaster Polish Radio this month that preparations were in progress to build Poland's first nuclear power plant at a site in the north of the country.

(gs)

Source: polskatimes.pl, wpolityce.pl