Orlen has terminated one of its two long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply contracts with QatarEnergy, as disclosed in a November 10, 2026, regulatory filing.
The company cited the persistent nature of force majeure events, which had resulted in a complete cessation of deliveries under the specific agreement.
The End of a 2009 Accord
The dissolved agreement traces back to 2009, when it was originally signed by PGNiG. It was set to expire in 2034. According to Bankier.pl, the contract accounted for the delivery of 1 million tons of LNG annually, representing approximately 15.3 TWh per year.
At 2026 market valuations, the deal was worth approximately 570 million euros, or 2.5 billion Polish zloty. While the contract had been in place since 2009, physical deliveries under the agreement only commenced in 2016. Per the terms of the termination, the contract will remain active for only 60 days following the formal notice.
Conflict and Infrastructure Attacks Extend Force Majeure
QatarEnergy declared force majeure following the escalation of the conflict between the United States and Iran. This tension led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and specific attacks on regional gas infrastructure, including significant damage to the Ras Laffan facility, which is the world’s largest LNG production site.
These conditions compelled QatarEnergy to extend its force majeure status through the end of 2026. Consequently, the last LNG carrier from the Persian Gulf arrived at the Świnoujście terminal on March 24, 2026.
Pivot Toward Market-Indexed Pricing
Orlen maintains that Poland’s energy security remains insulated from the loss. The company suggests that the 2009 contract, which was tied to oil prices, had become an outdated liability. By moving away from it, the firm claims it has secured more favorable purchasing conditions.
“Skorzystaliśmy z nich, działając na rzecz poprawy warunków zakupu gazu i zwiększania elastyczności portfela zakupowego spółki,” the company’s press office noted, as quoted by PolsatNews.pl.
Orlen is filling the gap through a diversified supply mix, using domestic production, flows from the Baltic Pipe, and increased U.S. imports. LNG shipments from the Plaquemines terminal. The company noted that it maintained supply continuity throughout the year despite receiving only four LNG shipments from Qatar.
Maintaining the Qatar Pipeline
Despite the termination, Qatar remains a key piece of Orlen’s strategy. A second long-term contract with QatarEnergy, also running until 2034, remains in full force. This remaining agreement, which covers up to 1 million tons of LNG annually, utilizes a pricing formula based on gas market indices rather than the oil-pegged structure of the now-defunct deal.
Reserves and Future Arrivals
Orlen insists that its current gas reserves and existing long-term contracts provide full coverage for the group’s needs, dismissing concerns that the termination could trigger a supply crunch. While the company characterizes the arrival of the Al Kharsaah in early November 2026 as an isolated delivery, Orlen CEO Ireneusz Fąfara cautioned that at this moment, the transport should be viewed only as a single “skowronek” (lark).
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