Polish state oil and gas giant Orlen SA has initiated legal action against the American LNG producer Venture Global, alleging a breach of a long term supply agreement. The issue was reported by Bloomberg and confirmed in a formal statement from Orlen.
According to the release, Orlen is demanding that Venture Global commence LNG deliveries under the contract without further delay. The American company, however, contends that shipments under the agreement should begin only by the end of 2024. To date, no LNG has reached end consumers, which the supplier attributes to early stage operational difficulties tied to the project’s initial rollout.
The dispute mirrors a broader pattern seen among European partners. Other major players in the energy sector, including Shell and BP, have previously pressed Venture Global over similar delivery timing concerns. The friction highlights the complex transition underway as European buyers diversify away from Russian gas and expand LNG imports from the United States and other global suppliers.
Since severing ties with Russia, Poland has secured a slate of LNG contracts with U.S. suppliers and others around the world. Yet timely fulfillment has remained uneven, resulting in some volumes needing to be sourced on the spot market at significantly higher costs. Industry observers note that spot purchases can render annual LNG costs markedly higher than planned, complicating budget forecasts for energy buyers.
The broader European market has also seen aggressive procurement activity. Belgium reported a notable increase in Russian LNG purchases on December 21, while Europe, on November 26, disclosed substantial secret purchases of LNG from Russia. These episodes underscore ongoing strategic shifts in European energy sourcing as governments balance security needs with market dynamics.
Poland has previously described the venture into U.S. LNG as part of a technological evolution, sometimes framed as an Arctic LNG 2 style breakthrough in the global race for energy diversification. The situation reflects a competitive landscape where Western and Eurasian suppliers compete for influence in Europe’s gas supply mix, with ongoing negotiations shaping how quickly new imports can replace traditional Russian volumes.
Analysts suggest that the core questions revolve around project execution, capital discipline, and the ability of LNG developers to deliver on contractual timelines. For Poland and similar buyers, the stakes are high: every delayed shipment nudges up annual energy costs, squeezes budgeting, and can influence national energy security calculations. The situation remains dynamic as additional contracts are reviewed, renegotiated, or supplemented with alternative supply routes, citations indicate the evolving strategic posture in European gas markets.
Observers note that the resolution of such disputes will hinge on the readiness of infrastructure, the cadence of new plant commissioning, and the flexibility of producers to meet long term commitments while managing weather, maintenance, and logistics challenges. As the global LNG market recalibrates, buyers and sellers alike are adjusting expectations about when and how reliably long term contracts can be fulfilled, with every shipment watched for signs of systemic progress or recurring bottlenecks. End users and policymakers will be watching closely, as these outcomes have implications for electricity prices, industrial activity, and regional energy resilience, according to market participants and publicly attributed analysis.