Poland formally agrees reduced Russian gas imports

Deputy Prime Minister Marek Pol and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Wiktor Christienko signed an agreement yesterday cutting Russia's delivery of gas until 2020, by 34.5%. This means that Poland will buy approximately 143 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia, instead of the previously-agreed 218 billion cubic meters. Under the new agreement, Poland will not be deluged with unnecessary gas nor obliged to pay for unused deliveries. The agreement also ensures gas transit through Poland to Western European states for the coming 20 years. "This will have important consequences for further development of economic ties between Russia and the EU," said Prime Minister Leszek Miller, also present during the contract's signing. The reduction is likely to save Poland over $5 billion. (Puls Biznesu, p. 4) M.M.