Poland receives another LNG shipment

Poland’s sole liquefied natural gas facility in Swinoujscie has received another shipment of LNG as the country is looking to further boost imports of the fuel.

The arrival of Nakilat’s 217,000-cbm Q-Flex LNG carrier Al Gattara on Thursday marks the 95th delivery to the Swinoujscie facility on the Baltic Sea.

The delivery is part of a long-term deal between Poland’s dominant gas firm PGNiG and LNG producing giant Qatargas.

PGNiG is in charge for all the supplies coming to the import terminal operated by Gaz-System’s unit Polskie LNG.

Poland has significantly increased LNG purchases via its terminal in Swinoujscie following PGNiG deals with Qatargas and US player Cheniere.

The move is a part of reducing the country’s decades-old reliance on Russian pipeline gas but also cutting dependence on coal.

Poland’s first LNG terminal in Swinoujscie is currently undergoing a capacity expansion but there are also plans to install a floating storage regasification unit in the Gdansk Bay.

Besides these developments, a consortium by Polish energy company Lotos Group and compatriot gas grid operator Gaz-System announced plans this week to build a small-scale facility in Gdansk.

The terminal would be the first such facility in Poland, which could help increase the use of LNG as a fuel in both maritime and road transport.