Gas supply deal will see BalticPipe extend to Norway

Poland and Norway yesterday concluded a major gas supply agreement that will see the BalticPipe, planned to run between Poland and Denmark, extended as far as Norway. According to the prime ministers of the two countries, Jerzy Buzek and Jens Stoltenberg, the deal is the founding contribution to establishing a special gas supply system for the whole Baltic region. The zl.50 billion contract was concluded between Polish Oil and Gas (PGNiG) and five Norwegian companies; Statoil, Norsk Hydro Produksjon, TotalFinaElf Exploration Norge, Norskeshell, and Mobil Exploration Norway. Under the terms of the agreement, between the years 2008 and 2024 Norway will supply Poland with a total of 74 billion cubic meters of natural gas. However, the deal is under threat from the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), which has said it does not rule out the possibility of altering the agreement if, as expected, it wins this month's parliamentary elections. SLD leader Leszek Miller insists that the gas purchased from Norway will be almost 30% more expensive than that from Russia. (Puls Biznesu, p. 4) M.T.