Ukraine national energy company Naftogaz is partnering with Poland’s Orlen to capitalise on LNG opportunities and create a more diversified energy system, following a period of intense Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
A gas supply contract has been signed for approximately 100 million cubic metres (cbm) of gas, which will be sourced from an LNG cargo to be delivered to the terminal in Klaipėda, Lithuania.
The gas will then be transmitted via the GIPL pipeline connecting Lithuania and Poland, and further through Polish territory to the interconnector on the Ukrainian border in Drozdowicze, where it will be received by Naftogaz.
Roman Chumak, Naftogaz Ukraine’s Acting Chairman of the Board, said the tie-up would also accelerate Ukraine’s integration into the European gas market.
Robert Soszyński, Vice-President of Orlen Management Board for Operations, said the letter of intent was the foundation for long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation in the crucial area of energy commodities supply.
“Our relationship will be based on commercial terms, but securing an additional source of gas is vital for Ukraine also from the point of view of its security. It is through diversification that Orlen ensures stable gas supplies for Polish consumers and can be a reliable partner for foreign counterparties,” he said.
Ukraine’s gas infrastructure has come under massive missile and drone attacks, according to Energy Minister German Galushchenko.
DTEK Oil & Gas, Ukraine’s largest private gas producer, reported facilities in the Poltava region have been attacked and operations stopped, and electricity grid systems in the Odesa region have been struck recently for the sixth time in just two-and-a-half weeks.
DTEK took delivery of its first 100 million cbm of LNG from the US at the end of December.
