Poland faces no problems with fuel supplies and no risk of shortages despite escalating tensions in the Middle East, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.Photo: PAP/Paweł Supernak
Speaking ahead of a Cabinet meeting in Warsaw, Tusk said the war had no direct impact on oil and fuel deliveries to Poland.
„I want to assure you that there is no problem when it comes to fuel reserves in Poland,” he said. „The war has no direct effect on crude oil and other fuel supplies to Poland.”
Tusk said state-controlled energy group Orlen does not import oil from Iran or via the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been disrupted.
„The entire structure of oil supplies to Orlen and to Poland is currently completely secure, and there is no question of even the slightest disruption,” he said.
Fuel storage facilities are more than 73 percent full—above normal levels—with about 3 million cubic metres of crude oil and rising, he added.
Tusk acknowledged that the government cannot guarantee fuel prices will remain unchanged, but said Orlen would use financial tools, including adjustments to margins, to prevent sharp swings in global oil prices from translating into major increases at the pump.
„We cannot, of course, guarantee that prices will remain untouched during this period,” he said.
He added that natural gas reserves were also stable.
In a statement on Monday, Orlen said it was closely monitoring events in the Middle East and their potential impact on global energy markets.
„At this stage, we do not identify any threat to the continuity of fuel supplies to the domestic market or to the operation of our refineries, as Orlen has not imported and does not import crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz,” the company said, adding that mandatory and strategic reserves provided a buffer against temporary disruptions in international trade.
The company said it has for years pursued a strategy of diversifying crude supplies.
Oil processed at its refineries comes from the Mediterranean region, North and West Africa, northern Europe, the Americas and domestic production.
Orlen also has long-term contracts with companies including Saudi Aramco and Equinor, which secure a significant share of its demand.
Orlen said it is prepared for various international scenarios, including potential changes in supply routes, and does not foresee refinery shutdowns or production cuts linked to tensions in the Middle East.
The company added that most liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sold in Poland comes from its own refineries, supplemented mainly by seaborne imports from the United States and western and northern Europe.
Drivers using LPG-fueled vehicles should not fear shortages, it said.
The comments come after an escalation of hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
The Iranian leadership on Sunday confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military officials, following attacks on Tehran.
Iran has since launched strikes on Israel and US military bases in Gulf countries.
The Iran-controlled Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, has seen major disruptions, according to reports.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that no vessels would be allowed to enter the strait, leaving hundreds of tankers stranded.
Between one-fifth and one-third of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes through the strait, along with significant volumes of natural gas, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Oil prices have surged in response to the escalation.
Analysts expect prices to remain elevated in the coming days amid concerns about attacks on energy infrastructure and maritime transport.
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Source: IAR, PAP, TVP Info
Radio Poland