Stopping the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project from Russia to Germany is “a matter of life and death” for Ukraine, the CEO of the country’s state-owned oil and gas company Naftogaz has said . Writing in a social media post this week, he said that the Ukrainian gas transmission network was part of his country’s defence system. Poland has strongly criticised the gas link amid concerns that the pipeline will make the European Union more dependent on Russian gas. A White House spokeswoman said this week that US President Joe Biden considers Nord Stream 2 a “bad deal” which divides Europe, and will decide whether sanctions are needed on the project.

Source – Polskie Radio

A third wave of the Coronavirus epidemic has started in Poland, a health ministry spokesman said on Friday, appealing for responsible behaviour after the government eased COVID-19 restrictions that have battered the economy.

He said that a period which saw the number of new infections falling had “slightly lulled our social vigilance.” Viruses mutate as part of their natural evolution and so different strains of the virus appearing is not a surprise. The current situation is being monitored but currently there are no changes to the rules which include the need to wear a mask in public, practising social distancing and isolating yourself if you come in contact with anyone infected.

Source – Polskie Radio

The Polish prime minister has called on the European Union’s executive to use its sway to ensure the timely delivery of COVID-19 vaccines amid delays in supplies from drug producers.

„Europe is a powerful market that has been hard hit by COVID-19,” Mateusz Morawiecki said on Thursday. He added: „The Polish vaccination system is prepared to vaccinate the country’s entire adult population quickly, but we need the right amount of vaccine doses.” Morawiecki also said that „the EU must demonstrate it can effectively take care of the interests of EU citizens.”

Source – Polskie Radio

And finally, Swedish battery producer Northvolt has said it will invest USD 200 million in a planned battery plant Gdańsk.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told a news conference: “Poland has become a powerhouse in the production of lithium-ion batteries, and here we have another example of this type of investment project.” The new 50,000-square-metre factory will be established in two stages, with an initial output of 5-gigawatt hours. Production is expected to start next year. In a statement on Friday, Northvolt said the new plant, along with an engineering research and development centre, would create 500 jobs in the region.

Source – trojmiasto.pl

Weather

The warm up continues today with sunny spells in a light breeze andtemperatures of 5 degrees centigrade (41degrees Fahrenheit) during the day, dropping to freezing pointovernight. Sunday will continue with sunny spells and a warmer feel with temperatures reaching 7 degrees during the day and –1 degrees overnight. The warming will continue into next week, with temperatures possibly reaching 13 degrees by next Thursday.

That was the Radio Gdańsk English news and weather.

RGEN/MC