Russia’s Gazprom appeals multibillion Polish fine over Nord Stream 2

Russia’s Gazprom says it has filed an appeal in a Polish court against a multibillion fine imposed by Poland’s antitrust authority over the construction of the contested Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

Gasprom ist das weltweit größte Erdgasförderunternehmen

EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

Last month Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) ordered Gazprom to pay over PLN 29 billion (some EUR 6.5 billion, USD 7.6 billion) and imposed a penalty of over PLN 234 million (around EUR 52 million, USD 61 million) on five other companies taking part in the construction of the gas pipeline "without the required consent."

Tomasz Chróstny, President of #UOKiK, has imposed a penalty of over PLN 29 bn on Gazprom, and of over PLN 234 mln on 5 remaining companies participating in the construction of the gas pipeline - as a result of the lack of approval for the #NordStream2 ⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/QwyGgrxutU

— UOKiK (@UOKiKgovPL) October 7, 2020

Warsaw has strongly criticised Nord Stream 2 amid concerns that the pipeline from Russia to Germany under the Baltic sea will make the European Union more dependent on Russian gas.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has called Nord Stream 2 “a new hybrid weapon” aimed at the European Union and NATO.

Russia's Gazprom this summer returned around USD 1.5 billion that Poland’s state-run gas company PGNiG overpaid for deliveries, following a ruling by an international arbitration court, according to officials.

(jh/pk)

Source: Reuters/PAP