Poland positions itself as central LNG gateway for Eastern, Central Europe

As Europe accelerates its exit from Russian gas, Poland is seeking to become the main entry point for global liquefied natural gas (LNG) into Central and Eastern Europe — a strategic shift that could reshape regional fuel flows and offer neighbors a more stable alternative to pipeline imports.

Poland has capitalized on momentum built in 2022, when Gazprom PJSC cut deliveries and the country’s early diversification efforts left it better prepared than many of its peers. With Europe planning to eliminate Russian supplies entirely by 2027, Poland is exploring new LNG infrastructure to transition from a self-reliant outlier to a regional gateway, Bloomberg reports.

The operator of Poland’s pipeline network, Gaz-System SA, is expected to decide by mid-2026 whether to build another floating LNG import terminal on the Baltic Sea. Chief Executive Officer Slawomir Hinc highlighted “a visible increase in interest in LNG, both in Poland and in other countries in our region.”

Poland already operates an 8.3-billion-cubic-metre terminal in the Baltic port city of Świnoujście and is constructing a floating terminal with 6.1 billion cubic metres of capacity, scheduled to open in 2028. Both facilities are fully booked by state-controlled Orlen SA, while the proposed additional terminal aims to attract new buyers, including international clients.

While Croatia, Greece, and Lithuania have also developed LNG infrastructure, Poland’s central location in Europe’s gas grid gives it a structural advantage. It could allow LNG imported from the US to be stored in Ukraine’s underground facilities or supplied to landlocked neighbors such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary.

“Poland does have some structural advantages — most importantly, access to the sea,” said Mykhailo Svyshcho, analyst at ExPro Consulting in Kyiv. “For decades, almost the entire region depended on Russian pipeline gas and made very limited efforts to diversify. Poland, by contrast, kept developing its own infrastructure, and this early start now puts it in a much stronger position.”

Poland is already sending US LNG to Ukraine, with Orlen planning to increase transit from 600 million cubic meters in 2025 to over 1 billion cubic meters next year. Ukraine also receives LNG via Lithuania, which currently traverses Polish territory along a longer and costlier route — a process that could be streamlined with additional import capacity closer to the border. Talks are also ongoing with Slovakia, which is seeking alternatives to Russian gas.

In a feasibility study conducted last month, Gaz-System reported interest from 14 entities in using the proposed terminal, with peak demand nearly four times higher than planned capacity. Almost half of the gas could be exported, and the terminal would need to begin operations by 2029 or 2030 to meet projected demand. Negotiations are underway with potential users to develop terms that make the terminal more attractive.

While establishing Poland as a key transit hub strengthens the country’s energy security, challenges remain for traders. “Participating in the Polish market is onerous,” said Matt Drinkwater, head of European gas at Energy Aspects Ltd. “A lot of work needs to be done on the regulatory side to make Poland an attractive hub to traders,” citing long registration processes and strict supply security regulations.

As Europe moves decisively away from Russian pipeline gas, Poland’s LNG ambitions could redefine the region’s energy landscape, linking international supply sources to Central and Eastern European markets more efficiently than ever before.

By Vafa Guliyeva