Gaseous Fuels Forum

On April 22-23, 2026, the Mercure Warszawa Centrum hotel hosted another edition of the Gaseous Fuels Forum, a joint project of the Polish Liquid Gas Association (POGP) and Information Market S.A. The initiative, which was born in 2023, has once again become a key platform for exchanging experiences for the LPG sector in Poland.

The event was officially opened at 10:15 AM by the hosts: Ewa Gawryś-Osińska, President of Gaspol S.A. and Chairwoman of POGP, and Robert Bukowski, President of Information Market S.A. The participants included not only business representatives but also special guests representing key state institutions and industry organizations, which emphasized the importance of the topics discussed for economic security and development.

An extremely intensive substantive part was inaugurated by a speech by Piotr Arak, Chief Economist at VeloBank SA, who presented an in-depth analysis of global turmoil. The expert pointed out the progressive shift in the global economic order – a retreat from the idea of free trade towards protectionism, which is particularly evident in the US policy towards organizations such as the WTO. The speaker emphasized the evolution of economic concepts, indicating that tariffs have ceased to be merely a protective shield and have become an active mechanism of pressure and a weapon in international relations. In the context of current politics, Arak outlined a "map of uncertainty," drawing attention, among other things, to the role of exchange rates: the US striving to weaken the dollar to support exports and the reactions of China manipulating the yuan's exchange rate in response to tariff barriers. Despite a difficult environment and the stagnation of the German economy, which has continued uninterrupted since 2019, Poland still appears to be a country maintaining growth prospects, although requiring vigilance in the face of global reshuffling.

Continuing the substantive part of the meeting, the floor was taken by James Rockall, CEO and Managing Director of the World Liquid Gas Association (WLGA). In his speech, he focused on the issue of sector resilience in the face of global changes, pointing to the unique features of LPG that make this fuel an exceptionally effective tool in times of uncertainty. Rockall emphasized that the key advantage of LPG is its immense capacity for adaptation – this fuel guarantees independence from centralized transmission networks and offers exceptional ease in reaching customers, even in the most demanding locations. In analyzing the current situation, the speaker referred to changes resulting from American policy and the growing role of the USA in the global energy market. He noted that although global uncertainty brings numerous challenges, the industry can turn them into successes. However, a proactive attitude is a necessary condition: the LPG sector must be visible and heard in key energy debates to prevent its marginalization. In conclusion, Rockall invited all participants to Liquid Gas Week, which will be held in mid-October in Istanbul. This event is organized jointly with the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Next, Waldemar Jaszczyk, Deputy Editor at Argus Media, took the floor and provided a detailed analysis of the condition of the European LPG market in the shadow of the conflict in the Middle East. The speaker focused on the strategic role of the Strait of Hormuz, indicating that its blockade hits China and India hardest, but also strikes Europe by ricochet. He paid particular attention to the butane market, which, unlike propane, is much more difficult to replenish with increased exports from the USA, making it more vulnerable to turmoil. During the presentation, the expert presented the scale of infrastructure damage in the Middle East, which will drastically hinder the return to normal market functioning even after the conflict subsides. Jaszczyk outlined an optimistic scenario: assuming the Hormuz blockade ended on May 1, the global market could regain balance only towards the end of 2026. The expert also explained why European prices react so violently to this conflict – the main reason is insufficient local production in Europe, forcing Poland to rely on imports from unstable directions. The analysis also covered specific price phenomena accompanying the war, including the occurrence of backwardation in the LPG market and drastic jumps in premiums. Jaszczyk noted that ubiquitous uncertainty has caused the industry to go into "emergency mode," which further intensifies price volatility and hinders the planning of stable long-term supplies.

The next presentation, titled "Market under the Magnifying Glass: Turkey," was delivered by Can Toydemir, Chief Operating Officer at Milangaz. The speaker pointed out numerous similarities between the Turkish and Polish markets, primarily the heavy dependence on foreign supplies – Turkey imports as much as 75% of its LPG demand, of which nearly half (47%) comes from Algeria. Toydemir described in detail the country's impressive logistics base, with 21 terminals located on three seas. Two facilities – Dortyol and Izmit – are of key importance for national supply, through which 3/4 of the total fuel volume passes. However, the expert drew attention to legislative challenges: restrictive Turkish regulations regarding mandatory stocks significantly limit the operational flexibility of energy companies. In a historical analysis of the market, Can Toydemir illustrated the deep sectoral transformation that has taken place in Turkey since 2000. During this time, a drastic decline was recorded in the cylinder segment (by 73%) and the tank segment (by 89%), with a simultaneous, spectacular 300% growth in the autogas sector. The speaker also discussed specific legal regulations concerning the functioning of these markets, and the presentation concluded with a summary of guidelines for "good autogas trade," emphasizing the importance of ethics and business responsibility in building a professional market.

The first thematic block was finalized by Emmanuel Trivin, Managing Director for Continental Europe at DCC Energy, who presented a comprehensive look at the current opportunities and challenges facing the European LPG market. The expert discussed in detail the evolving consumer expectations in today's economic realities, pointing to the need to adapt the offer to the new needs of recipients in Europe. Trivin also emphasized that to build credibility and a strong brand for the entire industry, it is necessary to adopt specific directions of action that will allow it to become more recognizable in public debate. He listed the sector's active participation in decarbonization processes and the intensive development of bioLPG as critically important tasks. An important point of the speech was the explanation of the principles of the upcoming transaction to acquire UGI's shares in Central Europe, which is to be finalized in the coming weeks. This process directly concerns, among others, AmeriGas Polska, and the speaker shed light on the strategic aspects of this consolidation.

The second session, titled "Poland's Turn Towards the Baltic," was opened by Ewa Gawryś-Osińska, Chairwoman of the Polish Liquid Gas Association, who presented the latest edition of the POGP Annual Report for 2025. In her speech, she analyzed in detail the transformations that have taken place in the domestic market over the last months. The speaker drew attention to a sharp, nearly 38% drop in liquid gas exports from Poland, while maintaining a stable level of domestic consumption. A noticeable and positive trend, recorded continuously since 2021, is the systematic increase in demand for gas for agricultural and industrial purposes, which proves the progressive diversification of LPG applications in the Polish economy. In the context of transport, Ewa Gawryś-Osińska compared Polish statistics with European data, emphasizing the colossal importance of autogas in our country. The number of LPG-powered vehicles in Poland is as much as 30 times higher than the number of electric cars (EVs). The foundation of this advantage remains price competitiveness compared to traditional fuels, although – as the Chairwoman noted – the current pricing policy at gas stations (the "CPN package") periodically disrupts this relationship. An important point of the presentation was the discussion of deep changes in import directions. In the face of tightening sanctions on LPG from Russia, the Polish market has made a historical turn towards maritime and western supplies, which was a direct reference to the title of the session and confirmed the strategic importance of port infrastructure on the Baltic for the country's energy security.

The issue of the strategic importance of the basin for the country's raw material sovereignty was presented by Tymon Pastucha, an analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM). His speech focused on the new role of the Baltic in Poland's energy security architecture. The expert indicated that although our country is moving away from traditional supply directions, this may give rise to completely new types of vulnerabilities and change the nature of existing supply dependencies. The speaker presented a broad panorama of energy changes in the region, discussing, among other things, intensive investments in offshore wind farms and plans for the expansion of nuclear energy. These key infrastructure projects, however, require special protection. In this context, Pastucha outlined the threats associated with the so-called shadow fleet operating in the Baltic. He noted that the presence of vessels with unclear status increases the probability of intentional or accidental damage to the transmission and energy infrastructure located on the seabed. The speech ended with an optimistic conclusion regarding regional cooperation. The analyst emphasized the high awareness of the Baltic states in the face of hybrid threats, resulting in a clear increase in military activity and coordination of defense actions that will guarantee the energy security of the entire region in the years to come.

Maritime LPG supplies in the Baltic Sea basin were the subject of a presentation by Ivan Buian, Commercial Director for Poland and Ukraine at Latvijas Propāna Gāze. The speaker presented insightful regional statistics for Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, comparing them with data from the Polish market. A key point of the speech was the analysis of regional port infrastructure, in which the port of Riga – operated by the speaker's company – was identified as an important supplement to the potential of Polish maritime terminals. Buian discussed in detail the import directions implemented by the Baltic countries, pointing to strategic supplies for his company from the American Marcus Hook terminal. Conference participants were able to learn about the logistics solutions used at the Riga terminal, where, in addition to traditional tanks with a capacity of 2,000 tons, a fleet of approximately 300 railway wagons serves a storage function, capable of holding an additional 10,000 tons of gas. The presentation also covered the technical aspects of the terminal's handling capacity and the sales structure of his own company in geographical terms. Showing the full operational model – from transatlantic import, through specific storage methods, to final distribution – provided participants with valuable information on the possibilities of diversifying supplies to the region based on the infrastructure of Poland's northern neighbors.

The presentation by Information Market, delivered by Dr. Szymon Araszkiewicz and Dr. Jakub Bogucki closing the second panel, drew attention to the fact that the focus on the Hormuz crisis often overshadows other key bottlenecks in global fuel logistics – such as Bab el-Mandab, the Strait of Malacca, or the Panama Canal, and the importance of these in situations of geopolitical tension is often underestimated. The speakers also emphasized that the fuel and LPG market operates today in conditions of multidimensional uncertainty, including the weaknesses of the European refining sector. An important element of the speech was also the role of China and India in the global oil and LPG market, as well as the prospects for supply in the face of the growing dominance of exports from the United States.

Session Three, titled "Public Policy and the Role of Liquid Gas," opened with a remote presentation by Rob Donaldson, Vice President of Targa Resources. Targa is a leading global producer and exporter of LPG, shipping approximately 1.5 million tonnes per month from its Texas facilities. Donaldson assured participants that the predictability of U.S. production enables the industry to effectively meet rising international demand over the long term.
He also addressed recent technical challenges impacting the company's infrastructure in March. A recent incident led to a temporary capacity reduction at the Galena Park terminal—which handles nearly 25% of all U.S. LPG exports—bringing its operations down to approximately 70%. This coincided with the outbreak of conflict in the Persian Gulf, resulting in a brief but sharp supply crunch that temporarily constrained U.S. export capabilities.
However, Donaldson emphasized the strategic importance of the Permian Basin as the cornerstone of stable growth for U.S. LPG exports to Europe. Over the past five years, production from Targa Resources' assets has grown by 16% annually, with a projected growth rate of roughly 7% per year over the next five-year period. With domestic U.S. demand expected to remain flat, the surplus will result in increased commodity availability for the export market.

The culmination of the conference was a debate and a discussion of the conclusions from the report on the LPG industry's impact on the Polish economy, inaugurated by a speech by Krzysztof Bocian, an analyst from the WiseEuropa Institute, who presented the character of the liquid gas industry in Poland, showing its importance through the prism of less frequently discussed but fundamental macroeconomic parameters. The expert pointed primarily to the massive scale of employment, estimating that nearly 300,000 people work in sectors related to this fuel. The industry's role as a solid taxpayer, constituting a significant source of revenue for the state budget, was also emphasized.

Such a broadly defined market characterization provided the substantive foundation for further debate, proving that the LPG industry is one of the key pillars of the national economy. This broad market profile served as the basis for a debate moderated by Bartosz Kwiatkowski, Director General of POGP. Participants in the discussion included Ewa Abramiuk-Lété from Liquid Gas Europe, Adrian Sinkowski representing the Polish Liquid Gas Chamber, Marcin Witaszek from the Polish Automotive Industry Association, Przemysław Bryksa from the Rutkowski i Wspólnicy Customs and Tax Advisory Office, Robert Jeszke from the National Centre for Emissions Management (KOBiZE), and Janusz Starościk, President of the Association of Manufacturers and Importers of Heating Appliances.

The panel debate touched upon the most pressing regulatory and market challenges, with the starting point being the "CPN package," which, according to the discussants, was treated neglectfully by legislators.

Adrian Sinkowski noted that the express, mere 26-hour legislative process made it impossible to include industry postulates, and the ministry's official position appeared long after the regulations came into force. At the same time, he expressed concern about the current price situation, which brings the cost of LPG close to gasoline prices, which, according to Bartosz Kwiatkowski, could drastically reduce interest in new installations and cause a psychological outflow of customers from autogas.

The transport thread was continued by Marcin Witaszek, referring to the exclusion of gaseous fuels from clean transport zones in Poland – a solution successfully used in Italy – and pointing out that it is a mistake to lack reliable verification of car emissions based only on their age or Euro standards.

The next part of the discussion was devoted to the heating sector, where Janusz Starościk reminded that it was gas that contributed most to the success of the "Clean Air" program. When asked about the reason for excluding gas boilers from subsidies in 2025, Starościk answered directly that this decision has no substantive justification but results from an ideological approach of financing institutions, such as the European Investment Bank.

Ewa Abramiuk-Lété, referring in the discussion to the issue of bioLPG, identified renewable liquid gas as a key element of the upcoming revisions of the RED III and RED IV directives. Liquid Gas Europe estimates current production of this fuel at 600,000 tons per year; however, the key challenge remains redirecting it from refinery self-consumption to public sale, which would allow for the implementation of expansive scenarios for the popularization of biofuels. On the other hand, speaking about the area of emission regulations, Robert Jeszke explained the complexities of the ETS2 system, which, by covering the transport and heating sectors, may generate real increases in fuel prices by 0.50 PLN per liter of diesel and about 0.35 PLN per liter of LPG. The expert emphasized that although work is underway on derogations for Poland, exiting the ETS system is not possible, so the effective use of the Social Climate Fund could become crucial. Poland is to be the largest beneficiary of this mechanism, which should significantly support the national energy transition and offset the social costs of the introduced emission fees.

The legislative thread was supplemented by Przemysław Bryksa, who discussed the reform project of the intervention stock system in the context of LPG. The expert noted that although many countries choose to release stocks in crisis situations, in Poland this system requires thorough reconstruction and greater flexibility. He pointed to the draft laws being processed, which assume the possibility of entrepreneurs fulfilling the stock obligation exclusively in the form of a stock fee, which would solve the problem of the lack of sufficient storage capacity for LPG. Bryksa also questioned the rigid framework of current regulations, asking about the justification for the requirement to maintain stocks in gasoline instead of diesel, which would be a more practical solution. He also noted that industry actions are bringing results, as the ministry plans changes in the system, including maintaining physical LPG reserves for municipal purposes. He emphasized that the implementation of these intentions requires urgent public debate, especially in the face of the aforementioned deficits in the country's storage infrastructure.

Adrian Sinkowski drew attention to the unused potential of cooperation with local governments, which currently leaves much to be desired and requires strengthening relations. On the subject of heating, Janusz Starościk critically referred to the forced electrification, pointing out that it takes place at the expense of liquid gas and leads to a lack of common-sense diversification of the energy mix. The panelists unanimously appealed for a more active fight for the sector's interests in the EU arena, where LPG is persistently omitted from strategic energy policy plans. In conclusion, Przemysław Bryksa put forward an apt diagnosis, suggesting that the lack of personal experience of the Polish political class with autogas may be a real barrier to understanding the specifics and importance of this sector for the economy. On the other hand, Robert Jeszke, closing the debate, pointed to a downward forecast for the use of LPG in transport. In his opinion, the role of liquid gas is particularly important in heating as a transitional fuel in the energy transformation. 

The event came to an end in the late afternoon – it certainly allowed for an in-depth analysis of the problems affecting the industry both on domestic ground and in the broad context of EU regulations and market conditions.