Norwegians worried that gas pipeline to Poland might not be viable

The implementation of the contract for delivery of gas from Norway is still unclear. "Poland cannot receive gas from only one source, (Russia). That is why Statoil's offer is interesting for us," said Prime Minister Leszek Miller in Oslo, during his official trip to Norway. Construction of the gas pipeline from the Norwegian gas fields would be economically justified only if it pumps 8 billion cubic meters of gas a year. That is why besides the 5 billion cubic meters of gas contracted to Poland, there is another 3 billion which has to find buyers, who might be in Norway, Sweden or Denmark. Statoil has confirmed that it is having problems finding clients to buy the 3 billion cubic meters of gas. Peter Melbye, president of Statoil said, "We would rather not sign the contract by the end of the year. It is our problem to decide whether it is worth the risk of building a pipeline to Poland, while at the same time looking for a client who would be willing to take 3 billion cubic meters of gas". (Prawo i Gospodarka p. 5) P.W.