Orlen will manage the Polish part of the Yamal gas pipeline. There is consent from the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection

Orlen took over another company. The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has issued its consent in the case of Europol Gaz, the company that manages the Polish part of the Yamal gas pipeline.

What next with the Polish part of the Yamal gas pipeline? The installation has remained unused since the gas supply tap was turned off by Russian Gazprom. As it turns out, the company that manages the Polish section will soon change its owner.

Orlen will take over Europol Gaz

According to information from the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, an application for consent to concentration has reached the president’s desk. The applicant is the Orlen concern, and its subject is the takeover of Europol Gaz. Documents in this case were received by the office on October 2, 2023.

Interestingly, on Monday, October 9, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection made a decision on this matter, but has not published it yet. The office also did not respond to journalists’ questions. The information was officially announced on October 10 by Orlen.

– The takeover of PAO Gazprom shares by Europol Gaz and the taking over of the Transit Gas Pipeline System by ORLEN will be of fundamental importance for the public interest and security of our country, not only in terms of energy. For decades, Poland was dependent on natural gas supplies from Russia. Just 10 years ago, they constituted approximately 80%. import of this raw material. For many years, Gazprom has used gas supplies as a tool of political pressure on Poland and other countries in the region. This has changed. From 2022, we are 100 percent. independent of gas from Russia. ORLEN currently has fully diversified sources of supply of this raw material, which it is constantly developing. Thanks to this, in the perspective of the coming winter and in the following years, gas consumers in Poland are secured. Today’s decision is another step towards restoring full control of Polish entities over the country’s strategic gas infrastructure, said Daniel Obajtek, president of Orlen.

Gazprom with shares in Europol Gaza

Europol Gaz was established to operate the Polish part of the Yamal gas pipeline, which carried natural gas from Russia to Europe. The shipment of the raw material ended as a result of Russia launching an armed invasion of Ukraine, but the Kremlin had already used the gas pipeline for political purposes before the war.

Each shareholder in the Polish company held 48%. Gazprom and PGNiG (currently part of the Orlen Group), and the remaining 4 percent. Gas Trading (part of the Orlen Group). However, in November 2022, the Ministry of Development and Technology imposed compulsory administration on Gazprom’s shares.

Orlen has now applied to the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection for the purchase of this part of the shares. If the president of the office gives his consent, Orlen, through two or more companies from its group, will control 100 percent. participation in a 684 km long gas pipeline in Poland.

However, on April 27, 2022, no gas from Russia flows through the pipeline. It was then that Gazprom decided to suspend gas supplies to Poland. The Polish government did not agree to the obligation ordered by Vladimir Putin to pay for deliveries via a special ruble account in a Russian bank.