Polish company Gaz System and German Gascade Gastransport signed an agreement to invert Yamal-Europe pipeline's stream. Warsaw bets also on LNG and shale gas in order to decrease energy dependence on Russia's natural gas supplies
Russia's gas imperialism constricts Central Europe to change the continent's energy geography. On Thursday 11/29 Poland and Germany agreed to carry Russian gas from the German land to the Polish one by a Yamal-Europe pipeline's reverse use.
According to an agreement signed by Polish Gaz System company and the German Gascade Gastransport, the terminal in Mallow - which is situated on German-Polish border - will start delivering gas from Germany to Poland, and no more receiving gas in German Gas Transportation System from the Polish one.
Poland's decision is motivated by the need Warsaw has to diversify gas supplies' routes from the one which delivers in Poland gas from Russia via Belarus. Actually, this route covers the 90% of Polish gas need.
By the reverse use of Yamal-Europe pipeline, Poland will import via Germany the gas Russia delivers directly to Germany by the Nordstream pipeline.
The Nordstream is a political project, realized by Moscow in the Baltic Sea seabed in order to bypass several EU countries, as Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Moreover, Poland's decision is also lied to the EU law. The EU Third Energetic Package invites all EU member states to unify their GTS, in order to create a EU common gas market and liberalize gas sector inside the European Union.
Before Poland, also Ukraine decided to import Russian gas from Germany via Hungary after Ukrainian national concern Naftohaz and Russian national major Gazprom did not find an agreement on gas supplies contract's renewal.
Nevertheless, Poland's decision to invert Yamal-Europe pipeline's stream increases Russia's position in the European energy market. For this reason, Poland also started the realization of a LNG terminal in Swinoujscie, in order to import liquefied gas from the USA, Norway, and Qatar.
Moreover, Poland implemented shale gas' research in the national territory. After Polish company PGNiG found a shale gas field in Pomerania Region, the second Polish energy company Orlen increased investments on shale gas field's exploitation in the Lublin Region.
According to several datas and researches, Poland has got the biggest shale gas field in Europe. If developed, polish shale gas could allow Poland and Europe to stop to be dependent on Russia's natural gas supplies.
Matteo Cazzulani
