- Title: U.S. to help Poland, Ukraine disconnect from Russian gas
- Date: 31st August 2019
- Summary: WARSAW, POLAND (AUGUST 31, 2019) (REUTERS) (FROM LEFT) U.S. ENERGY SECRETARY RICK PERRY, POLISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE, PIOTR NAIMSKI AND UKRAINE'S SECRETARY OF NATIONAL SECURITY OLEKSANDR DANYLYUK HOLDING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ENERGY SECRETARY, RICK PERRY, SAYING: "Today, the United States and Poland and Ukraine are signing a memorandum of cooperation signifying our common commitment to secure natural gas supply for this region." U.S., POLISH AND UKRAINIAN FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ENERGY SECRETARY, RICK PERRY, SAYING: "We're helping Poland to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, as the minister said, and support Poland's aspirations on becoming a natural gas hub to support LNG (liquified natural gas) to its neighbours. Through Poland, the same LNG can help another ally and that's Ukraine, help Ukraine counter the threat of supply reductions of Russian gas." POLISH EMBLEM AND SIGN READING (Polish): "CHANCELLERY OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF POLAND" (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) POLISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE, PIOTR NAIMSKI, SAYING: "In 2021, we will be able to provide Ukraine with enough amounts of gas, which is six billion cubic meters of gas per year and it is of course under the condition that there will be a required investment on the Ukrainian side to make it happen, which is building a 110-kilometres gas pipe between Polish border and the first gas depot in Ukraine." (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINE'S SECRETARY OF NATIONAL SECURITY, OLEKSANDR DANYLYUK, SAYING: "We understand that our dependency on Russia is not only has some economic implications, right but it has some political implications for our region and for Europe as a whole and the only way to combat that is diversification." OFFICIALS STANDING VARIOUS OF PERRY, NAIMSKI AND DANYLYUK SIGNING AGREEMENT PERRY, NAIMSKI AND DANYLYUK STANDING AND SHAKING HANDS
- Embargoed: 14th September 2019 18:01
- Keywords: Poland energy Russia U.S. WW2 commemorations U.S Energy Secretary Rick Perry
- Location: WARSAW, POLAND
- City: WARSAW, POLAND
- Country: Poland
- Topics: Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA001AUJTVLZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The United States, Poland and Ukraine agreed on Saturday (August 31) to enhance cooperation over secure gas supplies in the region which still relies on Russia.
U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry told a news conference in Warsaw after meeting officials from Poland and Ukraine that the memorandum of cooperation signifies common commitment to secure natural gas supply for this region.
The Polish government official responsible for energy infrastructure, Piotr Naimski, said Poland, which has increased purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States in recent years, would be able to send six billion cubic meters of gas to Ukraine starting from 2021 compared to the current capability of 1.5 bcm.
Perry, Naimski and Ukraine's Secretary of National Security Oleksandr Danylyuk signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance security of gas supplies in the region via LNG supplies from the U.S. through Poland's and Ukraine's infrastructure which still has to be expanded.
More than a third of Russia's gas exports to the European Union cross Ukraine, which traditionally uses some of the gas pumped by Russia to European consumers for its own needs in eastern and central regions.
Also Poland, which is seen as one of Washington's closest allies in Europe, still buys most of the gas it consumes from Russia, has taken steps to cut this reliance after 2022 when its long-term deal on gas supplies from Gazprom expires.
(Production: Dato Chkhikvishvili, Malgorzata Wojtunik) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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