Gas supplies by sea and biogas as elements of ensuring energy security: the example of Poland

Ensuring energy security is a complex process influenced by many factors. Decisions taken in this area are mostly of a strategic and political nature and cause serious consequences for the entire economy and society. Countries that want to take advantage of the achievements of civilisation, in the absence of their own adequately efficient energy fuel resources, are forced to import them. On the example of Poland, the following have been identified: the causes and level of dependence of the economy on natural gas, threats to the availability of this raw material and formal restrictions on its use as well as its substitutes and energy alternatives. The approach applied in the article is the rational approach to the energy policy issues, and factor analysis including system analysis were used. The authors verified whether the diversified supply of natural gas by sea and the use of biogas can ensure strategic security of supply with this raw material to Poland. The conclusions resulting from the considerations indicate that having the infrastructure necessary for the diversification of gas supplies is no longer sufficient to ensure Poland’s gas security. In 2022, the objective deviation of natural gas on the international market also became a critical factor in this regard.