Poland unhappy at Brussels decision on Nord Stream
PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk
29.10.2016 11:20
Brussels has lifted a cap on Gazprom's use of the Opal pipeline, the land branch of the Nord Stream line, a decision Poland has said it will contest.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The European Commission says its move, taken on Friday, improves the competitiveness of the market.
The Commission’s decision, which will be valid until 2033, means that Russia will be able to use 80 percent of the capacity of the Opal pipeline, which is part of the Nord Stream Baltic Sea pipeline connecting Russia and Germany, bypassing Poland.
The Opal pipeline takes gas to customers in Germany and the Czech Republic. Gazprom currently uses 50 percent of the line’s capacity.
Even before the Commission’s decision was officially announced, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło announced that Poland would contest such a move by taking legal action among other steps.
Polish Energy Minister Krzysztof Tchórzewski said: “This agreement puts a big shadow over cooperation in the field of energy security, and even undermines European Union premises regarding a common energy policy.”
(pk)
Source: PAP/IAR/Polish Radio