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US, Poland Ink Agreement to Begin Bilateral Strategic Energy Dialogue - Perry

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States and Poland launched a Strategic Dialogue on Energy, which includes a goal of increasing US shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to counter Russia’s position as Europe’s main supplier, Energy Secretary Rick Perry said in a statement.
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"This morning I signed a MOU [memorandum of understanding] with Secretary of State… for Strategic Energy Infrastructure Piotr Naimski to formally launch the US-Poland Strategic Dialogue on Energy," Perry said via Twitter. "The United States is ready to work with Poland on cybersecurity, nuclear, fossil, and energy infrastructure."

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Perry explained the US-Poland Strategic Dialogue on energy would begin with a meeting in early 2019.

A speech prepared for Perry spelled out expectations for both nations, with an emphasis on expanding Polish imports of US.

"After Poland and Lithuania opened their [liquefied natural gas] terminals, they saw dramatic reductions in pricing and were able to decrease reliance on Russia," Perry explained. "The growing availability of liquefied natural gas provides leverage when negotiating contracts with Russia."

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Perry noted that many European nations are highly dependent on a single supplier, Russia, which he said provides 75 percent of natural gas needs for 13 nations in Europe.

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Perry also reiterated US opposition to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, which when completed will ship gas beneath the North Sea directly from Russia to Germany.

Perry and Polish President Andrzej Duda recently signed a 24-year contract to supply Poland’s state-owned oil and gas company with up to 1.45 million tons of liquefied natural gas per year, about 1.95 billion cubic meters after regasification, Sputnik reported earlier.

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