Deputy Minister of State Assets of Poland Janusz Kowalski commented on the situation with the dispute between the Polish PGNiG and Russian Gazprom.
At the end of March, PGNiG announced that it had won a gas price case against Gazprom and was entitled to a return of about 6 billion zlotys (about $ 1.5 billion). According to the Polish company, the court changed the price formula under the contract and the arbitration decision concerns gas supplies carried out from January 1, 2014.
Gazprom Export, in turn, stated that they were studying the solution, and yet consider it premature to assess the amount of possible payments.
Kowalski in an interview with Wprost noted that Poland could try to seize the assets of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline if the Polish company does not receive the funds.
“A few years ago, the Ukrainian Naftogaz won the dispute in arbitration – it was very similar to the one we won. The court awarded Naftogaz almost $ 3 billion, ”cited the example of Kowalski, recalling that at the request of the Ukrainian side, a number of Gazprom’s assets were seized in Europe.
According to the deputy minister, “PGNiG is also moving in this direction today.”
“In my opinion, the first thing to do is to seize the shares of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 companies. This, in turn, may slow down the construction of the second branch of this gas pipeline. Secondly, it is necessary to refuse any concessions in relation to Gazprom in the context of collecting the 6 billion zlotys that are due to us, ”added Kowalski.
In November 2019, Gazprom Export announced that it had received a notification from the Polish PGNiG of its intention not to extend the gas supply contract, which is valid until December 31, 2022. The company explained that “the possibility of sending such a notification is provided for by contract terms.”
It is specified that, in accordance with the contract, the Polish side had to notify the Russian company about its intention to extend the gas agreement or refuse it three years before its end.