Greenpeace Polska warned that Poland may run out of natural gas as early as December, meaning that the state energy giant will have to buy the missing amount on the stock exchange at high prices. It calculated that the company would have to allocate PLN 33 billion for the purchases.

“The analysis showed that, with the currently contracted volumes, in December  Poland may lack 830 million cubic meters of gas, which is more than 40% of the domestic gas demand this month,” Greenpeace Polska wrote, adding that the gas shortage may remain at a similar level in the coming months.

Following the report, PGNiG issued a statement, saying that “the gas reality is much more complicated”, and Greenpeace Polska's analysis contains some simplifications. “As Greenpeace Polska notes, the situation in the European gas market is very difficult. We are aware of this and are working hard to prepare for the upcoming heating season,” the company said. PGNiG added that it is in talks with several major gas producers operating on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, but doesn’t comment on their course.

Poland consumes about 20 billion meters of gas annually. Most of the consumption - about 12 billion cubic meters - takes place in the autumn and winter months. Greenpeace has obtained information that shows that gas supplies via the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline, contracted by PGNiG with the Danish company Ørsted, may not be delivered as planned at the beginning of 2023.

According to a statement from Total, the operator of the Tyra field, from which the gas would flow to Poland, the launch of production will be delayed and will not resume until the turn of 2023 and 2024.

Greenpeace recommends that the government prepare a priority investment plan, which will redirect multi-billion public funds to thermal modernization of buildings and replacement of heat sources.