Poland, a staunch supporter of the embargo on Russian oil since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, continues to cover around 10% of its oil needs in Russia, a deputy minister of assets admitted to parliament on Thursday. ‘State.
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If the European embargo in force only concerns maritime imports of oil, one of the main sources of income for the Russian state, Poland boasted last year of having a “radical plan” to abandon Russian oil imports at the end of 2022.
Maciej Malecki, responding to a question from an opposition MP, acknowledged that the contract in force with the Russian group Tatneft and which expires at the end of 2024 covers “around 10 percent of the needs of (national oil giant) Orlen”, i.e. 200,000 tonnes of oil per month.
According to Mr Malecki, the state-controlled Orlen is “firmly stating that he will stop buying Russian oil as soon as an embargo is introduced within the EU”, citing the “risk of damage” to pay in the event of breach of the contract in force.
For several years, Poland has greatly diversified its sources of gas and oil supply and, according to Mr. Malecki, the contract with Tatneft is “the only one” still in force.