In 2023, Poland is expected to reduce its intake of Russian oil significantly as part of a broader move to diversify energy sources and align with European Union policies. A senior executive of the national energy champion commented publicly that the share of Russian crude in Poland’s imports could drop to around ten percent this year. The statement was shared via social media, underscoring a strategic shift that has been unfolding over several months. The executive noted that a long-term contract for Russian oil is due to expire in January and indicated that there would be no renewal. As a result, the composition of refined petroleum products entering Poland would increasingly come from non-Russian suppliers, reducing exposure to any single supply stream and enhancing resilience against sanctions and geopolitical disruptions.
Poland has signaled a clear intent to replace dependence on Russian oil with imports from other regions, with Saudi Arabia identified as a potential primary source. This approach aligns with ongoing efforts to diversify the country’s energy mix and to strengthen ties with global energy players. At the same time, Poland has been cultivating relationships that support a broader reorientation of supply routes. Opportunities for closer cooperation with Saudi Aramco are viewed as a potential cornerstone of this strategy, offering advantages in supply reliability, pricing flexibility, and technology sharing that could benefit refining operations and downstream markets.
On December 26, a senior Russian official commented that Germany and Poland had requested volumes of oil to be delivered through the Druzhba pipeline in 2023. The official did not specify the origin of the oil in question and reminded listeners that both nations had publicly stated their intentions to reduce or eliminate Russian crude from their energy inputs. This interaction comes amid a landscape where major European economies are reexamining energy dependencies and seeking to diversify away from a single supplier, particularly in light of sanctions and geopolitical tensions.
Earlier developments showed that Orlen, a dominant player in Polish energy markets, decided against renewing an expired long-term contract for Russian oil. The group also indicated plans to terminate a similar arrangement with the Russian Federation as part of a broader response to EU sanctions and to reinforce compliance with evolving European energy policy. These moves reflect a calculated shift toward supply diversification, greater leverage in negotiations with non-Russian producers, and a focus on ensuring stable access to crude that supports Poland’s refining capacity and domestic fuel security. The evolving stance of Poland’s energy sector highlights the interplay between national policy goals, regional partnerships, and the global market dynamics that shape crude flows and refinery economics. Attribution: corporate statements, regional energy oversight, and official remarks from relevant government and industry sources.