Gazprom Signs Memo to Build Yamal-Europe 2 Pipeline via Poland

Russian gas giant Gazprom and Poland’s EuRoPol GAZ have signed a memorandum of understanding to build the second line of the Yamal–Europe pipeline through Poland to Slovakia and Hungary, Gazprom said in a statement on Friday.

“The Yamal-Europe 2 project involves the construction of additional transport capacities to ensure safe and guaranteed Russian gas supplies to European consumers. The pipeline will extend across Poland and its design and construction be carried out with the proactive participation of our Polish partners,” Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said.

The Yamal-Europe-2 project is expected to be completed in 2018-2019.

A feasibility study for the project will be ready within six months, he said. The pipeline’s capacity will be at least 15 billion cubic meters per year.

Poland does not need additional gas supplies from Gazprom since it conducts a policy aimed at diversifying its supply sources, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said. “Poland has been proactively working on the diversification of its gas supplies and sources over the last several years. That is why we are not interested in a radical increase in the amount of gas bought from Gazprom,” he said.

On Wednesday, Polish Treasury Minister Mikolaj Budzanowski said Poland doubts the logic behind resuming the construction of the Yamal-Europe-2. He said Poland does not see the need to restart the Yamal-Europe-2 project as it has become engaged in a number of other gas projects, including a plan to domestically produce shale gas and the construction of its own liquefied natural gas terminal, which will be put into operation in 2014, in addition to other projects along the German and Czech border.

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