Ukraine and Poland are planning to establish an Eastern European gas hub to supply the region with gas from alternative sources, meaning non-Russian ones.
This was
reported by the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine.
The agency believes that Ukrainian underground storage facilities and Polish LNG terminals can create a new business model to replace Russian gas transit.
In March 2024, the countries signed a memorandum of cooperation that aims to enhance interaction between gas markets, establish guaranteed capacities at interstate connections, eliminate barriers to cross-border trade, and enable the use of Ukrainian gas storage to strengthen the region's energy security.
Ukraine has officially proposed signing documents to initiate the development of interstate "entry-exit" points in the gas transportation system at the border with Poland, as well as to increase installed capacity.
"Our forecasts are clear. We expect the introduction of long-term and medium-term contract signing procedures in a business mechanism similar to business models in the USA. This will help Ukraine and Poland store as much gas as necessary for all of Eastern Europe," said Deputy Minister of Energy Nikolai Kolesnik.
"In this specific case, this deregulated and physically developed capacity between our governments will help redirect the portion of natural gas that was previously supplied by the Russians," he added.
Poland's first stationary LNG terminal in Swinoujscie has been in operation since 2016. Its capacity is 6.2 billion cubic meters, with gas supplies managed by PGNiG, part of the Orlen group.
In 2027-2028, Poland also plans to launch a floating LNG terminal with a capacity of 6.1 billion cubic meters.
It should be noted that Ukraine will not
extend the gas transit agreement with Russia after its expiration. This was stated by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during a joint press conference with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Currently, the transit of Russian gas through the Ukrainian gas transportation system
continues as usual.
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