Poland has signed its first deal to purchase liquefied natural gas from a U.S. supplier, which will help with the country’s efforts to cut its dependence on deliveries from Russia, officials said Thursday.
The head of Polish gas giant PGNiG, Piotr Wozniak, called it a “historic moment” for the company which is “gaining a new partner in LNG trade” in North America and becoming a “gateway” that opens for U.S. gas in northern Europe.
His deputy in charge of trade, Maciej Wozniak, said the one-time delivery will arrive at the Baltic Sea port of Świnoujście in early June from the Sabine Pass terminal located on the border between Texas and Louisiana. It will be the first U.S. LNG delivery to northern Europe.
Prime Minister Beata Szydło stressed that the deal helps Poland cut its dependence on deliveries from Russia. The country has been seeking to reduce its reliance on Moscow for a long time, which has used fuel as a tool to pressure some countries in the region in the past.
The U.S. is rich in shale gas, which has made it a significant exporter of the fuel. Among others, it has been exporting it to southern European nations like Spain and Turkey, but not yet to the Central Europe countries.
Source: The Washington Post
