The 1st shipment of American LNG from Louisiana's Cheniere Energy arrived in Poland on June 14, 2017, a feat hailed as an energy milestone in both Poland and Europe.
Some U.S. commentators have even suggested that American suppliers could help end Polish dependence on Russia's state oil company, Gazprom, which provides 59 % of the country's annual natural gas consumption.
Poland's government has said that it does not intend to renew its supply agreement with Gazprom when it lapses in 2022.
Planning to cut ties with Russia is a challenging geopolitical endeavor, but it is just one part of Poland's much touted plan to become energy independent.
Fully 45 % of the country's primary energy demand and 80 % of its total electricity generation is provided by coal, produced chiefly in the Silesia region.
In coal-powered electricity, Poland is 2nd only to South Africa.
Natural gas, a comparatively clean technology, supports only a limited portion, some 14 %, of the country's overall energy demand.
In ensuring its own energy security and contributing to the EU's climate targets, Warsaw could preserve its domestic priorities while also contributing to Europe's sustainable development.
American LNG is a welcome development for Poland, but the shipment will not significantly change Poland's energy security picture.
