The deal between Saudi Aramco and Orlen, Poland's biggest oil company, aims to develop the Poland's technological capabilities to process different oil types, according to the undersecretary of state and Poland's vice-minister of energy on Thursday.
'Orlen is our biggest oil company out of several in the oil sector and gas sector. Traditionally we are sourced from the East, especially from Russia and for the last 10 years, Poland is pursuing a constant stable policy in terms of diversification of sources of supply,' Dr. Michał Kurtyka said in an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency.
Kurtyka explained that the contract with Aramco is part of efforts to adapt Poland's technological capabilities to process different oil types.
'[With this contract] we can make a real competitive market in central and eastern Europe, and as we are also developing transport capacity in the region, we are not only capable of shipping more oil but of also transforming different kinds of oil,' Kurtyka said adding that cooperation with Aramco is adding value to the product range.
- 'Nord Stream II brings politics inside European gas market'
Kurtyka said that Poland does not consider the Nord Stream II natural gas pipeline project as a viable option. 'We think it is not a good project for Europe, it is not a good project for European [natural gas] diversification.'
'Poland considers it a political, not a commercial project which will bring politics inside the European gas market. We will not increase the dependency on one supplier,' Kurtyka said referring to the potential bind with Russia as the instigator of the project.
Kurtyka said that the project increases the dependence of the region on one single supplier, Russia, which is currently under investigation for anti-trust practices in the European Commission. He added that Russia has previously proved to use energy sources, especially gas, as a weapon.
'We are right now building another pipeline through Denmark, to the Norwegian shelf as a Baltic connection. It will provide real diversification for the region with another supply source,' Kurtyka said.
He said that Poland's position regarding the Nord Stream II pipeline is resolute. This opposition has manifested in a letter of opposition to the project submitted to the European Commission along with eight other Prime Ministers from Central and Eastern Europe requesting measures to be taken to halt the project.
- 'We will be very open for an exchange of views with Turkey'
Kurtyka also commented on Turkey's energy diversification and said 'I think that Turkey is a big and prospective energy market. It has lots of potential, it’s a very strong economic country and I think it will need to diversify its sources of supply. For energy, if Turkey wants, we will be very open for an exchange of views and knowledge on how we can build more a robust future.'
'Diversification of energy supplies is not an easy process, it is a very long term process, and moreover it takes time and requires a stable policy, but it is possible. Poland is not pursuing this policy both for gas and oil,' he added.
By Muhsin Baris Tiryakioglu from Poznan, Poland
Anadolu Agency
muhsin.tiryakioglu@aa.com.tr