Kiev, June 20 - Neftegaz.RU. Polish Government's Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure Piotr Naimski says Poland is ready to launch a gas pipeline with the capacity of 2 billion cu m (bcm), which will link the Polish gas transportation system (GTS) with the Ukrainian one in Hermanowice, Ukrainian UNIAN reported.
"We are ready, if necessary, to launch a gas pipeline that will connect the Polish [GTS] system with the Ukrainian one in Hermanowice. Its capacity is 2 billion cu m. This is not much, but when Ukrainians need urgent assistance, we are ready to provide it," he said, as reported by the Ukrainian ZN.UA on June 19.
The official added that Poland was waiting for a decision of the Ukrainian side. As was reported, the European Commission said that new gas talks might take place in the 2nd half of September 2019.
Gazprom proposed that the Naftogaz of Ukraine entered into the settlement deal. Gazprom also set a condition for a new contract. Later, head of Gazprom's legal department Sergei Koval said that the Russian company does not see the possibility of concluding a transit contract with Naftogaz after 2019 on European terms due to the Ukrainian side's lack of readiness.
In turn, Ukraine warns European countries about the need to prepare for the gas crisis due to skepticism regarding the conclusion of a new agreement with Russia on gas transit via the Ukrainian GTS before the existing agreements expire.
