The Polish Natural Gas Market – Resources, Extraction, Import and Consumption

Abstract

Poland has been dependent on natural gas supplies from the East for many years. This dependence is a problem for our country, as it reduces the energy independence and energy security of Poland. Therefore, attempts to change this situation have been made for many years. The construction of the gas terminal in Świnoujście was the most spectacular investment in this area. It will allow covering up to half of Polish gas demand, thus limiting the dependence on supplies from the east. Domestic natural gas resources, whose deposits are located in the Polish Lowland, Permian deposits of the Fore-Sudetic and Greater Poland region, and in Carboniferous and Permian deposits of Western Pomerania, are also used. Natural gas also occurs in the Carpathian Foredeep and in the economic zone of the Baltic Sea. However, the amounts of natural gas produced in Poland are not enough to cover the demand for this raw material. In 2017, the production amounted to 3.9 billion cubic meters, which allowed to cover less than one-quarter of the demand. Poland’s hopes for shale gas faded after unsatisfactory results of shale gas exploration. This is the reason for the importance of natural gas imports. In 2017 year it amounted to 11.4 billion cubic meters. To ensure stable supplies, gas pipelines and storage facilities are also needed. Recently, there have been numerous investments in this area, while the main project is the construction of the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline connecting Poland and Norway. The connections with Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are also of strategic importance for Poland. The gas consumption in Poland is constantly increasing; this trend is likely to continue. Therefore, the current investments are of great importance.