Polish gas monopoly PGNiG (PGN.WA) is in advanced talks with Russia's gas major OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) and its unit Gazprom Export on additional gas supplies for Poland, PGNiG said Monday.
The PGNiG statement did not give any details except for "PGNiG believes in reaching a compromise that will satisfy all parties involved."
Earlier Monday, Russian news agency Interfax cited Russia's Energy Minister Sergey Shmatko as saying that Poland and Russia agreed that Gazprom and PGNiG would each have 50% of shares in EuRoPol Gaz, the operator of the Polish section of the Yamal gas pipeline that transports gas from Russia to Western Europe via Poland.
At present, PGNiG and Gazprom each hold 48% of shares in Europol Gaz. The remaining 4% is held by Gas-Trading, an unlisted company held by PGNiG, Gazprom and Bartimpex.
The change of the ownership structure was a condition that Russia made in September in talks with Poland over a new gas agreement.
Poland needs to buy more natural gas from 2010 and its gas monopoly PGNiG has for months been in negotiations with Gazprom to increase supplies.