Piechota says he wants gas deal with Russia by year's end

Economy Minister Jacek Piechota yesterday declared his desire to finalize the gas deal with Russia by the end of this year. However, there was no progress on the issue of constructing the second part of the Yamal pipeline, apart from the obligation to guarantee funds for the construction of two gas pumphouses that would increase the transfer capacity of the first Yamal pipeline from 21 billion to 28 billion cubic meters per year. During talks held last week in Moscow by Deputy Economy Minister Marek Kossowski, Poland agreed to provide around $160 million for the development of the Yamal gas pipeline. Gazeta Wyborcza also reports that at the meeting Russian representatives presented a new pipeline route option which would connect pipelines in Slovakia and Belarus. The new pipeline would go around the Bieszczady mountains, an option already opposed by ecologists, and would lead through the Beskid Niski mountains, close to Magurski National Park, possibly raising another environmental issue. (Gazeta Wyborcza, pp. 1, 20) M.T.