Russian gas pipeline to earn Poland almost $1 billion

By 2022 the state budget, coupled with the budgets of local governments, is expected to earn $850 million from the exploitation of the Polish section of the Yamal gas pipeline, announced Infrastructure Minister Marek Pol yesterday, adding "That's almost $1 billion". Pol and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Wiktor Christienko signed a preliminary agreement under which the supply of Russian gas to Poland will be reduced by 74.6 billion cubic meters in the years of 2003-2020. The agreement also envisages extending gas supplies by two more years until 2022. The final agreement will be signed on March 1. (www.onet.pl) A.Z.