Poland is continuing to boost imports of LNG via its only import facility in Swinoujscie as it looks to reduce pipeline gas imports but also coal usage.
PGNiG, the country’s dominant gas firm, said in a report on January 27 it imported 3.76 billion cubic meters of LNG into Poland during the last year.
Compared to 3.43 bcm imported during 2019, this represents a rise of 9.6 percent. The 2019 imports also marked a rise of 25 percent year-on-year.
PGNiG is in charge of all the supplies coming to the import terminal operated by Gaz-System’s unit Polskie LNG. The facility recently received its 115th delivery since 2016.
The Polish gas firm mostly imports volumes under its long-term deal with Qatargas and Cheniere but also the spot market.
US volumes on the rise
During the last year, the firm revealed a charter deal with Knutsen for two LNG newbuilds that will ship its US volumes to Poland.
The firm says the delivery of these vessels in 2023 will coincide with the launch of Venture Global LNG’s Calcasieu Pass terminal in Louisiana.
The Polish firm has supply deals with Venture Global LNG for about 3.5 mtpa or 4.73 bcm.
Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass will supply 1 mtpa while Plaquemines LNG will deliver 2.5 mtpa to the Polish company.
Including the Cheniere deal, this puts the volume of contracts for US LNG in the PGNiG portfolio to about 9.3 bcm annually after regasification.