Poland is poised to become a key gas transit hub in Europe in the coming years, driven by the European Union’s plan to completely phase out Russian gas imports by 2027 and sustained demand in Central and Eastern Europe. The country is already expanding its liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure, with a second floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) planned for the Gulf of Gdańsk.
According to the Polish Economic Institute (PIE) in its latest economic weekly, Poland could operate three LNG terminals by 2030, with a combined regasification capacity of over 20 billion cubic metres per year. The existing LNG terminal in Świnoujście has been operational since 2016, while the first FSRU in Gdańsk is under construction and scheduled to launch in 2028.
The development of LNG import infrastructure was primarily motivated by the need to diversify gas sources and reduce dependence on Russian supplies, the PIE report says. Another key investment was the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline, which was launched in 2022.
LNG expansion and Baltic Pipe
The construction of the second FSRU in Gdańsk will significantly boost Poland’s potential as a regional gas hub. The PIE notes that although Poland launched cross-border connections with Slovakia and Lithuania in 2022, almost all gas exports so far have gone to Ukraine.
In 2025, Gaz-System recorded a record export volume of 2 billion cubic metres through the domestic transmission system, with 99 percent of that sent to Ukraine. Exports via the links with Slovakia and Lithuania have been minimal. Slovakia remains dependent on Russian gas via the TurkStream pipeline, while Lithuania has its own LNG terminal.
Future transit role
In the coming years, Poland’s significance as a transit country is expected to grow. This will result from the EU’s complete withdrawal from Russian gas imports by the end of 2027 and continued demand in Central and Eastern Europe. “In these conditions, LNG infrastructure and cross-border connections could enhance Poland’s role as a regional gas hub and the main corridor for gas supplies to countries in the region,” the PIE analysts stated.
Poland’s strategic location, combined with its expanding LNG capacity and pipeline links, positions it as a critical player in Europe’s energy security architecture. The shift away from Russian gas is accelerating, and Warsaw is betting on its infrastructure to serve neighbours that lack direct access to the global LNG market.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Shutterstock/IZZ HAZEL
