Norwegian gas deal to alleviate Poland's dependence on Russian supplies

Polish Oil and Gas (PGNiG) signed a deal to buy 200 million cubic meters of Norwegian gas from Norway's state oil company Statoil in October 2001 and then 500 cubic meters annually through to October 2006. The gas will flow through Germany with German gas suppliers Ruhrgas and VNG-Verbundnetz Gas acting as resellers to reach the Polish border in Goerlitz - Zgorzelec. Yesterday's deal centered around the issue of transport from Emden to Zgorzelec. "The current deal will serve as a basis to sign a more comprehensive agreement," said PGNiG president Andrzej Lipko. Currently gas imported from Russia accounts for more than 70% of the 11 billion cubic meters Poland consumes annually. The Nordic deal will help to reduce the country's dependence on Russian supplies. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 2, Reuters) P.S.