– In the international community Russia wants to play the same role as formerly the USSR. However, its effectiveness is limited; the best in the CIS countries, but much worse, when it comes to taking an important place in the countries of Central or Western Europe – said Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, an expert of ASBS Othango.
Hence ideas, which are not entirely economically feasible, as, for example, construction of the second line of a giant oil pipeline (BTS2) to the port in Primorsk. Transnieft wants to lay it down, in order to double exports through this port and, in the same time, to be able to reduce transport by the network of „Przyjazn” oil pipelines – including the route via Belarus and Poland.
It is the effect of a strategy assuming a decrease in the transit of oil, elimination of intermediaries in the trade in this raw material, and, obtaining a share in distribution of fuels in Europe. – Perhaps, being in the situation of Russia, from the political and business point of view, we would behave similarly – said Igor Chalupec, a former head of PKN Orlen. It was the Plock-based concern, which bought the biggest refinery in Lithuania against Russian expectations and competing in this tender with the biggest Russian fuel companies. – Before it came to the transaction, Russian used the refinery and the port in Klaipeda to maintain influence in Lithuania – said Chalupec.
- No political correctness suggested Russians to conceal the fact that they use raw materials as political tools – said Cezary Filipowicz, a former Vice-President of PKN, who also participated in preparing transactions in Lithuania. – We considered the fact that they can „turn off” the oil pipeline.
Participants in the debate reminded also the most up-to-date example of how effective is Russia’s energy policy – the purchase by a Russian company of nearly a 20 percent stake in the biggest Hungarian fuel company– MOL. – We cannot escape from Russia, or resign from purchase of its oil, but we should try to build a strong entity in Poland – recapitulated the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrzej Olechowski.
