Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka told PAP in Washington that he is confident about the stability of energy cooperation between Poland and the US, which he called an “iron ally.” He also pointed out that the situation in the Ukrainian energy sector already affects Poland, so Ukrainians are also fighting in Polish interests.
During his visit to the USA, Motyka talked with the American side and partners from Central and Eastern Europe about “building a new energy security architecture for Europe” and strengthening transatlantic relations. He emphasized that Poland, thanks to the energy infrastructure modernized over the last dozen or so years, is becoming a gas hub for the entire Central and Eastern Europe.
– A few months ago, during the EU Energy Council, we decided to completely eliminate deliveries of Russian gas to Europe. This is a particular challenge for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which have so far been the first recipients of this gas in Europe. They could forward it, they could use it. This price was competitive years ago. Now, after the experience of the energy crisis and the fact that Russia treated energy resources, including gas, as a blackmail tool and de facto as a weapon, there is a complete change in thinking and structure – a complete change in the security architecture and building it anew – emphasized the minister in an interview with PAP.
As Poland, we “have learned our lesson”
– What does it involve in practice? As Poland, we learned our lesson and were perfectly prepared for these challenges, that is, we built an LNG terminal in Świnoujście and expanded it. We have a very good Baltic Pipe connection with the Norwegian shelf through Denmark and we are building an FSRU terminal in Gdańsk – he mentioned.
He also drew attention to the presence of high-capacity interconnectors with neighboring countries: Ukraine, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany and Lithuania, as well as the modernized gas infrastructure in Poland.
He noted that Poland is talking to the USA – which he called an “iron ally” – about how this infrastructure can be used, i.e., in practice, become a recipient of gas in Polish ports and send it to neighboring countries. – This will have a direct positive effect on our economy because we will be able to make money on this infrastructure and its use – he explained.
Will gas be cheaper?
The minister announced that gas will be cheaper. – The more gas flows into Polish ports and Polish terminals, the lower its price will be. The recent gas reductions were also a result of this, so it can help Polish households and entrepreneurs and financially support our economy – he assured.
– History has shown and the future will show that the strategic partnership between Poland and the United States is not only a matter of the decisions of a given administration and the perception of economic decisions. This is not just a matter between the government and the government, between the president and the president, but it is a long-term cooperation built on trust. This is a much more solid foundation than business as usual, argued the head of the ministry.
– And regardless of how the government and coalition will be shaped in Poland in a few years, and who will perform the most important functions in the US, this infrastructure will only be better used. This is a multi-year project built on economic principles, but above all, built on mutual trust and good experiences. That's why I'm concerned about stability, he said.
Referring to the energy crisis caused by Russia, he emphasized that Poland had learned from it that “the energy system will be resilient when it is independent.” The most important lessons for us are: diversified supplies, the strength of Polish companies that have built competences in the energy sector and solidarity in the energy field – he mentioned.
– Today we stand in solidarity with Ukraine, defending itself against an aggressor who has unlimited appetite when it comes to its imperialism – noted Motyka.
– What is extremely important is that the situation in the energy sector today in Ukraine has a direct impact on the situation in Poland – he emphasized. This includes: high prices and lower imports of pellets from Ukraine to Poland.
– Lower supply of this raw material on the market combined with higher demand led to higher prices. And lower imports resulted from the fact that the destruction of de facto 60 percent power generation in Ukraine led to the shutdown of factories, including biomass pellet sawmills. This has a direct impact on the situation in Poland. Ukraine is also fighting in our interests, he concluded.
From Washington Natalia Dziurdzińska (PAP)
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