Paweł Olechnowicz, President of Grupa LOTOS Management Board

The energy union initiative proposes many good solutions, such as infrastructure expansion for energy market purposes. My hope is that the European Union will adopt a highly pragmatic approach when drafting directives implementing this project.

The energy union is a project under discussion, and today it is too early to talk about its final shape or the extent of adopted measures. It is important to ensure that the initiative helps us achieve our goals.

Energy security in Europe is a top priority. It will affect our ability to avoid or weather the consequences of potential crises threatening European states. The EU is not targeting anyone’s interests − it is not opposed to the interests of suppliers, and it is obviously not hostile towards energy and fuel consumers. The energy union is a concept designed to introduce order into a crucial area of international cooperation in Europe, which remains of key importance to global security. Without a doubt, the Polish contribution to the discussion is and will be vital. The debate must account for all aspects of the energy sector, such as raw materials, generation, trading and technologies. Even now, Central Europe Energy Partners (CEEP), an international organisation established upon the initiative and in cooperation with the LOTOS Group, are fostering convergence of positions on numerous issues, in particular those key to the development of a sustainable energy sector in Europe.

We know from experience that we can come up with solutions satisfactory to all EU member states, including solutions that account for the needs of developing economies, such as Poland.

I think it is important to draw lessons from the existing situation. The plunge in oil prices in late 2014, substantial uncertainty about energy supplies, high volatility of energy prices, and the US energy expansion have created the market in which European economies − including our own − are currently operating. This is why the energy union concept must account for the strategic importance of EU states’ own resources in reducing dependence on energy imports.

I agree that development of energy infrastructure and formation of solidarity mechanisms in case of an energy crisis are crucial. But Poland should also strive to achieve independence in developing its own energy resources under formal EU regulations. We need to have the freedom to set up a flexible energy policy to establish a system securing crude oil and natural gas supplies in crisis situations.

The LOTOS Group is active in crude oil exploration and production and contributes to strengthening Poland’s energy security. Upstream operations are expensive and involve numerous risks, which is why Polish companies operating in this segment should receive full support from Polish government and local authorities. In my opinion, this support is being offered today, which bodes well for the future.