Gazprom not to be able to fully use Nord Stream 2 under European regulations – Poland’s PGNiG chair

The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, if put into operation, must be subject to European regulations. In this case, Gazprom will not be able to operate it at full capacity and will be forced to use Ukraine's gas transmission system for transit.

This was stated by the Chairman of the Board of the Polish oil and gas company PGNiG, Pawel Majewski, who spoke at the XXX Economic Forum in Karpacz (western Poland), an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Completion of the pipeline, taking into account that it will operate in accordance with European regulations, will mean that Gazprom will not be able to use it at full capacity. If it fails to do so, it will have to continue transmitting gas via Ukraine. This is very important. Ukrainians are our allies in the struggle for energy solidarity and its application in the context of the Nord Stream 2 project," Majewski stressed.

On the issue of Ukrainian-Polish cooperation in the gas sector, the PGNiG chair stressed that over the past five years, the Polish company had exported to Ukraine more than 3 billion cubic meters of natural gas, including part of it after regasification from the LNG terminal.

He noted that gas deposits in Ukraine are currently estimated as Europe’s largest – at about 1 billion cubic meters. Therefore, the Polish company together with its Ukrainian partner, ERU (Energy Resources of Ukraine), sees significant prospects of gas production in Ukraine.

"We have previously signed a memorandum on gas exploration in Ukraine. We have an agreement on the use of Ukrainian gas storage facilities, we also have a concession for gas production in western Ukraine near the border with Poland. These deposits are similar to the Polish ones in Podkarpackie Voivodeship and we hope for success," Majewski emphasized.

He added that PGNiG has agreements with Polish companies Geofizyka Torun and Exallo Drilling, which are engaged in gas exploration, seismic research, and drilling, so they are allowed to perform this work in Ukraine.

"Therefore, we perceive the Ukrainian market as very promising," said the chairman of the board of PGNiG.

im