Poland aims to stop buying Russian gas after 2022: FM
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
22.09.2017 11:40
Poland aims to stop importing natural gas from Russia after 2022, Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski has said.
Waszczykowski talks to reporters during his week-long visit across the pond. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka
The country wants to become completely independent of Russian gas supplies not to be vulnerable to potential “political action” by Moscow, Waszczykowski told reporters on Thursday.
"After 2022, an agreement signed with Russia by the former government of Waldemar Pawlak on natural gas supplies will expire" and Poland wants to have “the possibility of importing natural gas from other, politically safe, directions," Waszczykowski said while in America for a series of talks and meetings.
Speaking shortly before his departure for Warsaw, he added: “The diversification of suppliers and the development of infrastructure will enable Poland to not only completely give up Russian gas supplies, but also distribute gas it imports to neighbouring countries.”
Waszczykowski also said that in the past Russia used natural gas supplies “for political purposes” against Belarus and Ukraine.
In late May, Polish officials announced plans to gradually replace gas supplies from Russia with imports from northern Europe. (gs/pk)
Source: Polish Radio