Nearing deal: Poland in discussions with Russia for gas supply
Poland closes in on Russia gas deal
Poland and Russia could sign a new gas supply deal by the end of March, Economy Minister Waldemar Pawlak said.
Poland has not been receiving all of its contracted gas supplies from Russia after a Ukrainian intermediary ceased deliveries following the gas row between Moscow and Kiev last month.
Gazprom temporarily increased deliveries to Poland to 93% of the contracted amount, but said it wanted to renegotiate the intergovernmental agreement between Warsaw and Moscow before changing the gas deal.
Asked when the new deal could be signed, Pawlak said: "It can be signed by the end of March. The negotiating instructions have been worked out a few weeks ago but so far have not been accepted by the cabinet and this must happen because the new agreement must be approved by the government afterwards."
A source at one of Poland's ministries also told Reuters that the intergovernmental consultations, lead by the infrastructure minister, were planned for early March and that the energy sub-group would meet even earlier than that.
"The gas talks will go on there. I don't think a political trip to Moscow before those would serve its purpose," the source added.