Poland to cut down Russian oil imports by 2022

• Poland is building up infrastructure to receive deliveries from Qatar, U.S., Norway

Poland’s Prime Minister announced that the country would take all measures to cut down Russian oil imports by 2022.

On Wednesday, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that Poland was “presenting the most radical plan in Europe for departing from Russian oil” by the end of the year.

The European Union has refrained from sanctioning Russian energy imports as the 27-nation bloc depends on Moscow for the fuel needed for cars, electricity, heating, and industry.

Morawiecki called on the European Commission to impose a tax on all hydrocarbons imported from Russia to make trade "just." He said that the money paid for Russia’s oil and gas was fueling its war machine.

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Poland is expanding its liquid gas terminal in Swinoujscie to receive deliveries from Qatar, the U.S., Norway, and other exporters. Another Baltic pipeline bringing gas from Norway will open at the end of this year.

Poland is the first nation in the EU to swiftly cut off Russian fossil fuels. On Tuesday, Poland said that it would ban imports of Russian coal.

EU plans to reduce Russian gas imports by two-thirds by the end of 2022 and eliminate them before 2030. The bloc is making way to ramp up renewable energy investments.

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(With inputs from AP)