The Polish government says it is ready to face any interruption of gas supply after Russia’s Gazprom informed Warsaw that it will halt gas shipments through the Yamal pipeline from April 27.
Poland’s PGNiG gas firm said in a statement that Gazprom informed Poland of its intention earlier on April 26.
PGNiG also said it would take steps to reinstate the flow of gas according to the Yamal pipeline contract and that any halt of supplies is a breach of that contract. It added that it has the right to pursue damages over breach of contract.
Polish Climate Minister Anna Moskwa said on Twitter that there would be no shortage of gas in Polish homes as a result of the Gazprom move.
“Since the first day of the war we have declared that we are ready for full independence from Russian raw materials,” she said.
“Poland has the necessary gas reserves and sources of supply to protect our security,” she added.
Gas storage facilities are 76 percent full, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said, adding that Poland is ready to obtain gas from other sources.
After Western countries imposed sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin warned EU member states that their gas supplies will be cut unless they pay in rubles.
Poland has refused to do so, agreeing with other EU countries that have refused, saying that under the terms of the purchase agreement they can continue to pay in euros or dollars.
Gazprom did not confirm the cut-off but a senior executive at the company was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying that “Poland must pay for gas supplies according to the new payment procedure.”