Russia, Poland may sign gas agreement in October, Gazprom says
YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK. Sept 29 (Interfax) - Russia and Poland may sign supplements to their existing gas delivery agreements in October, Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev told journalists.
Gazprom held talks with the Polish side earlier this month. "The talks were constructive. Certain adjustments were made and initialed. They do not change the form of the current agreements," he said.
If the Polish authorities give the go-ahead, the agreement could be signed in October, Medvedev said.
In light of Warsaw's shifting policy, the Russian side is trying to set down its gas relations with Poland in legally binding documents at the intergovernmental level. Current agreements limit the volume of gas delivered to Poland. The contract on delivery of greater volumes was signed at the beginning of the year, but the intergovernmental documents creating the opportunity for delivering the additional volumes, which were finalized in April, have still not been signed.
The Polish authorities are now alarmed over a substantial decline in gas deliveries that could begin in the next few weeks. Polish gas company PGNiG has tried to purchase gas from E.ON Ruhrgas, which would have been shipped through Ukraine, but dropped the idea after failing to reach agreement with Naftogaz Ukrainy.
RTS$#&: GAZP