WHY DOES POLAND BUY GAS FROM RUSSIA?

I live in Canada and wonder why Poland get their gas imports from Russia- their biggest enemy since, oh I dunno, the beginning of time! I remember a couple of years ago the Ruski's turned off the supply for a while (which affected Germany too). What is Poland doing to diversify it's supply?

I thought they make their own gas from all them gołąbki and bigosy

well, the oil and gas prospecting works in Poland were not the highest world standard during the 80's and now there are voices we have enough gas of our own only the fields are not being developed - actually one can think there could have been high level sabotage in Polish governing bodies influenced by Russian agents so as not to prospect and develope Polish gas fields (sidenote: I am not sure if it is true, but read once that American prospectors in early 90's have discovered enormous deep gas fields beneath the Carpathians - this is not included in the estimates made that we could be self-sufficient as for natural gas, AFAIK)

International relations are international relations but business is business.

Wow, that's odd. I'd never shake hands with my biggest enemy. Tusk seemingly does.

The simplest answer is that gas is needed here and it's not far to transit.

There you have the most important statement of your post. You live in Canada, far away from Europe. You haven't got a clue about the dynamics and processes taking place in Europe. Poles buy gas from the Russians, simply because its cheaper or the only gas available in the area?


Hm, just to compare: NL is supposed to have one of the world's largest gasfields underneath her soil, well exploited and handled. And another one underneath her part of the North Sea yet to be exploited. Yet we sell that to Germany and other countries, while we import gas from Russia. How's that for logic, eh?

The capitalist's logic behind this is that they cannot charge as much for Dutch gas than they can for Russian gas and they can simply make more money out of our own gas by selling it. C'est tout.

>^..^<

M-G (needs to do something, but forgot what)

Tusk is a known cheater and liar (to use a quote;) - curious if anyone here will know where the quote is from)

Watch Tusk behaving confronted with Angela Merkel and Putin - it's not the way the host is supposed to behave - the guy was shaking after the famous conference whereby he dismissed his closest political allies (working as ministers in his cabinet) and went on to cast grand accusations on CBA and it's boss - it must have been tension within (am I able to lie so blatantly and will they believe me)

Who'd you rather have as pm: Tusk or Kaczinski again?

I know who'd I would choose for.

>^..^<

M-G (needs to get off his butt and do something)

The Ruskies have all of Europe under thier control. Thats why when the invade countries like Georgia, The UK and France put thier tails between thier legs and wait for the USA to save them because they havent got any balls! Theyre so afraid Russia will close the spicket on them.

Russian will always own Europe coz the EU will never stand up against them:)

it does not matter who you would choose for for obvious reasons - btw it is very sympthomatic that the Westerners seem to know better what kind of politicians should govern Poland - I tell you stop thinking you know better - what is good for you is not necessarily good for Poland


this is why Poland (at least part of Polish political scene) seek close alliance with America but America seems not be interested at the moment

Briefly speaking -
Gazprom ( Russia ) control a lot of the supply to Eastern and Central Europe, including Poland.
Periodically they turn it off when Putin gets peed off.

To prevent this Poland is looking to get 20% of its hydrocarbons from Norway (Skanled).

Because this wil lessen Russian influence, Russia up the stakes by building a pipeline to Germany which bypasses Poland.

US are looking to gain influence in EU by building a pipeline through the Stans ( including Afghanistan).


USA saved Georgia ???


Russia/USA - whats the difference ?

Maybe were waiting for Germany, France and England to step up to the plate???

The EU is a joke...lol

enough said

Briefly speaking -
Gazprom ( Russia ) control a lot of the supply to Eastern and Central Europe, including Poland.
Periodically they turn it off when Putin gets peed off.

To prevent this Poland is looking to get 20% of its hydrocarbons from Norway (Skanled).

Because this wil lessen Russian influence, Russia up the stakes by building a pipeline to Germany which bypasses Poland.

US are looking to gain influence in EU by building a pipeline through the Stans ( including Afghanistan).


USA saved Georgia ???


Russia/USA - whats the difference ?


Dont believe the hype. I took a 75% loss [carpathian.com.au] - on these.

Why should we????

The mighty European Armies that live right next door couldnt or were too afraid to do anything??

Russia will walk all over Europe anytime it feels like it and the first thing you would do is cry to the USA,,,,help us:)

You gotta be kidding me?
When did America say that all Mexicans are in fact Americans and they should all belong to the USA?
Or all of America since USA is America?!
They don't do $h!T liek that RUSSIA DOES!

19th Century.
Who has repatriated more land - Russia in the last 30 years or USA in its entire history ?
( Ok, apart from the Phillipines )

The trend is going from gas to electricity. Probably because of the price these days.
So it's very likely that Poland will need much less gas in the future.

Probably some Mexican said it...lol

England wont even be a country anymore in 20 years time, well just call it Immigarant Isle...
Thier heritage and country are slowly rotting away internally, they sold out thier citizens and now take orders from Brussels...lol

That is exactly the way it is with oil in Canada.
Canada is #1 source of oil in the US and yet:

- gasoline is more expensive in Canada
- Canadians living along the border with the US will often cross the border just to pump gasoline in their cars

Just two days ago I went shopping to the US and the prices are as follows:

Buffalo, NY - $0.63/liter
Niagara, ON - $0.90/liter

Explain that.

simple - more tax on gas in Canada than the US - in Poland all taxes amount to almost 80 per cent of gas/petrol prices


well there was no hype in the media in Poland about that - I only read it online on some industry related website (it was in Polish) -

what I have read they take gas from 5 km deep reservoirs in southern US (Luisiana) - they have prospected it according to newer gas/oil origin theories (I think it was the 80's)

there was a suspection that such reservoirs lie beneath the Carpathians (it is often that smaller shallower gas fields (or oil fields) lie above vaster fields beneath) - the thing is these deeper fields are much more expensive to develope

Doesn't Norway, or one of those northern countries have a ton of gas???

Norwegian North Sea deposits are soon gonna be depleted. They are already used for over 30 years

Sledz is right. Germany is bum buddies with Russia, Sarkozy is a crawling fly who curries favour with them and Brown would never stand up to Putin.

Russia can act with impunity and cripple Europe this winter. Polish business is heavily reliant on Russian gas and even temporary cutoffs can visibly hamper industrial progress here.

Scotland is in a decent position when it comes to gas.

What's the problem?? At least I am following what's going on in Poland. Typical Euro snobs.
By the way the Polish community is pretty big around Toronto.

be objective


that`s good


Poljaci in Poland?


Do they have contacts with Serbs of Toronto? maybe cooperation during elections? maybe solidarity with Serbs over Kosovo question?

I agree with Rychlik. I've never been to the ME, for example, but I've researched it so thoroughly that I know what I'm talking about. I've also watched umpteen Kosovo documentaries and am watching another now.

Canadians tend to be broad-minded people in my experience. They make inquisitive journalists and they can couple their resourcefulness with having ample access to the info they need.

I'd even prefer to listen to a Canadian perspective as they are more detached from the ding-dong battle that existed between Gasprom and Ukraine/Poland and the EU in general. Say no to European provincialism.

industrial gas consumption is already limited in Poland - one fourth of Russian gas went to Poland through a middle man - RossUkrEnergo which is also a middle man in Russian-Ukraine gas deal - since last January gas crisis the RossUkrEnergo is out of business (as agreed between Ukraine and Russia) and Poland was left without its one fourth of supply - RossUkrEnergo is bankrupt - what is more Russia doesn't wish to sign long term deal with Poland (even though the conditions offered by Polish side were pretty favorable for Russians - there is a need for success in the present government's foreign policy - one of it's claims was Kaczyńskis were obsessed with Russians and antagonised them - so PO government is ready to make big consessions to Russians just to strike some deals with them to enhance their 'diplomats' image) (you can be diplomatic to whatever extent - if someone is bent to screw you and has an egde over you he will have at least short term success)

Because Russia sits on most economically feasable reserves for the region, thats all there is to it.

I agree with that, Gumi. Tusk is a man who values brownie points and the next election, rather than practical concerns

Maybe but he still wouldnt betray Mel Gibson like your king did!


My personal opinion is that its because of Russian gas deposits dwindling rather then malevolent politics, at worst its both.