PGNiG eyes new sources for gas supply
Polish gas monopoly PGNiG wants to accumulate licenses to extract 200 billion cubic meters of natural gas abroad, primarily off the Norwegian coast, a move that would lessen Poland's reliance on Russia for oil and gas.
"Currently our proven deposits [of gas] in Poland stand at 100 billion cubic meters," Michał Szubski, PGNiG's chief executive told Reuters. "I want our foreign licenses to be double that and that means 200 billion."
The move would allow Poland to lessen its reliance on Russia, which provides 95 percent of its oil needs and half of its gas needs. Currently, PGNiG buys 70 percent of Poland's 14.6 billion cubic meters of annual gas consumption from abroad.
"We are looking for new sources of gas and oil supplies for Poland," Szubski said. "This means mainly Norway, or the North Sea region, as well as southern Pakistan, Libya, Egypt and Algeria."
Michał
Szubski, PGNiG's chief executive told Reuters that the company still plans to
purchase a stake in major fertilizer makers Puławy and Police when the two
companies go up for sale. These plans would not interfere with PGNiG's aim to
buy shares in power producer Enea. (AO)
