WARSAW — A dispute over gas import prices between Russia and its European customers escalated Monday as Polish gas monopoly PGNiG filed an arbitration procedure against Gazprom to cut import prices under a long-term supply deal.
PGNiG said earlier this year that it wanted at least a 10 percent discount and would turn to arbitration if it were unsuccessful.
The move comes a day before Gazprom is due to open its Nord Stream pipeline to Germany, avoiding transit through Ukraine and by extension through Poland. It also comes a week after Poland signed a contract with Gaz-System, a pipeline operator, to carry natural gas from German operators to Poland at a 15 percent discount to Gazprom's import price.
(Reuters)
