PGNiG urges EU to take a tough stance on Gazprom

WSE-listed, state-owned gas giant PGNiG asked the European Commission to take a tough stance in its antitrust investigation against Gazprom, proposing that the Russian behemoth should pay fines and was forced to sell its assets. “The European Commission should financially punish Gazprom and create competitive conditions on the gas market,” PGNiG said in a letter submitted to the Commission. Company’s CEO, Piotr Woźniak added, that Gazprom is using its dominant position to set different prices for different clients. “We have calculated every single cent we have overpaid for the gas,” he said, without providing any figures. Furthermore, PGNiG proposed that Gazprom should be forced to sell controlling stakes in companies that own key gas infrastructure throughout the EU, including the Jamal-Europe gas pipeline, as well as the Opal link and Katharina underground gas storage in Germany. Back in March, the EU said, after its anti-trust probe launched into Gazprom operations, that the concessions offered by the Russian company are enough to ease concerns of market abuse, and decided against fining the company, what could amount up to 10 percent of its annual turnover. However, the deal is subject to feedback from some EU states and market players, and Poland said that it would use “all legal means” to block the proposed settlement.