On September 11, the European Commission said it has been informed by the Polish authorities that there is a reduction of gas flows from Russia.
“We have also been informed that the Polish authorities are now looking into the cause, whether it is of a commercial nature or of a technical nature,” Marlene Holzner, spokeswoman for EU Energy Commissioner GüntherOettinger told reporters, adding that at the same time Poland said that it can compensate for the losses of gas flows for the Polish market.
However, Poland had to temporarily suspend reverse gas flows to Ukraineon September 10 afterRussiareduced its gas deliveries to Poland this week.
Polish state energy group PGNiG said it was trying to find out why volumes had been slashed by up to 24%. In Kiev, Ukrtransgaz accused Russian gas monopolyGazprom of penalising Poland and undermining onward gas supplies to Kiev. Poland has lobbied Brussels hard to impose tougher sanctions on Moscow for its role in Ukraine.
Holzner told reporters on September 11 that the European Commission’s further action will depend very much on the causes for the Russian gas shortfall in Poland. The Commission is holding talks with the Polish authorities, the companies, and the government to find out more about the latest disruption, she said.
She also announced that Ukraine,Russiaand the European Commission will hold a new round of talks on the Russia-Ukraine gas pricing dispute on September 20 in Berlin. “We have proposed now a date for a trilateral meeting between the Russian partners, the Ukrainian partners and us and that will be on September 20 in Berlin,” she said.
http://www.neurope.eu/article/eu-edgy-russia-slows-poland-gas-flows