Russia bans gas supply in Poland

Gazprom justified the suspension under the new payment rules announced on 31 March, under which “non-friendly states” must pay for Russian gas in ruble.

PGNIG has refused to pay with Russian currency and relies on Gazprom for most of its gas imports, reports the BBC, broadcasts Klankosova.tv.

However, suspension of supply will not create an immediate threat to supplies in Poland.

PGNIG said its underground gas deposit is almost 80 per cent loaded and summer is coming, so demand is lower.

Also, Poland has alternative sources of supply, it has a liquefied natural gas terminal on the Baltic coast and ties to pipelines with Germany and the Czech Republic.

However, if Russian gas supplies remain suspended for several weeks, the country will probably have to start limiting the supply to the country's biggest consumers, such as chemical producers.

Poland is planning to stop importing Russian gas by the end of the year.

A new pipeline sending gas from Norway, dubbed “Baltic Address”, comes online in October and must reach full capacity by the end of this year.