Pass the gas

The issue of Poland's energy security reared its ugly head again with the recent dispute between Russia and Ukraine over gas prices. Although fears were raised that Poland's gas supplies from Russia would suffer as the flow to Ukraine (through which Poland receives much of its gas) was halted, the country was not severely affected by the row. Gas pressure dropped by 14 percent but was back on track within 24 hours.

Still, the crisis has raised questions as to how Poland would react if it were in Ukraine's position. The Polish government recently expressed interest in purchasing gas from Norway, despite the fact that Norwegian gas costs more than the Russian variety.

While these plans are a good start, experts say they are insufficient to address problems that would arise if the flow of gas from Russia to Poland were to stop in the near future.

"Today our country would suffer a great deal if we were in Ukraine's place. Poland does not have any major connection with anyone but countries in the East. All our government can do currently is to keep as good relations with Russia as possible and to diversify energy supplies as fast as possible," the Oil and Gas Institute's deputy director Andrzej Froński says.

"In the case of a long-term lack of stability in the international energy market, limits for selling fuels may be put in place. It will also concern gas fuel, electricity and heat," said Economy Minister Piotr Woźniak, but he refused to go into more detail.

Poland has joined four other Central European EU states - Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia - who have agreed to act together on energy issues and push the EU to establish a Common Energy Policy. The energy issue will also be one of the main subjects at the next EU summit, scheduled for March.