Gas from the South, Not from Russia: The Possibility of Distributing Natural Gas from the Eastern Mediterranean to Poland and Central Europe

Abstract

Energy security plays a key role in the functioning of societies; therefore, every country should strive to ensure it. The Russian–Ukrainian dispute has destabilised the fuel market in Europe. In particular, the natural gas sector in Central and Eastern European countries (CEEs) has been disrupted. Poland was forced to reorganise its gas distribution from the eastern to the northern direction. Other Central European countries are also actively working towards independence from Russian gas. Certainly, a viable alternative for most CEEs is to access hydrocarbons located in the Eastern Mediterranean. The development of the gas transmission infrastructure between this region and the CEE can strengthen their energy security. This article provides an SWOT analysis showing that the commissioning of a new gas infrastructure for distributing gas from the Eastern Mediterranean to CEEs is important for their energy security and provides the opportunity to disconnect from Russian gas. The research results may be useful for analysts, entrepreneurs, or policymakers interested in the CEEs’ gas sector.

Keywords

• natural gas
• energy security
• Poland
• CEE
• Eastern Mediterranean