Polish Gas Deal Awaits EU Approval
Gaz-System, the Polish Treasury’s gas transmission operator, will operate the stretch of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline that lies in Poland.
The issue of who would be operating the pipeline became a critical issue in the recent negotiation that concluded in a recent gas supply agreement between Poland and Russia.
A deal between the two countries agreed was upon earlier this year, but its implementation was delayed over European Commission doubts as to whether it was in line with EU laws.
The EC said an operator independent of producers and suppliers must supervise gas deliveries on the Polish territory in keeping with the EU requirements, allowing for all market dealers to have an equal access to the infrastructure.
The Yamal-Europe gas pipeline. with a capacity of 33 bcm per year, transports Russian gas to Germany through Poland.
The 684 kilometer Polish section had, up to now, been operated by EuRoPol GAZ, a consortium owned by the respective Polish and Russian energy giants PGNiG and Gazprom with stakes of 48 percent each, with their joint venture Gas-Trading holding 4 percent.
The deal now awaits approval of the EC prior to final signing.
Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said this week that he hoped the gas deal would be signed within seven, or maximum ten days.