MET Group, dynamically expanding in European markets, is launching a subsidiary in Poland. “This is a natural step in the development of our business. Poland faces enormous transformational challenges, and we want to offer companies modern and flexible energy solutions,” Paweł Wierzbicki, CEO of MET Polska, told Strefa Biznesu.
Original interview in Polish: Strefa Biznesu
Maciej Badowski: Why did MET Group decide to enter the Polish market now?
Paweł Wierzbicki: Poland is a large market in the centre of Europe, undergoing economic and energy transformation. We believe that Polish customers' expectations for the variety of solutions and flexibility offered will continue to grow, and at MET Polska, we want to meet these needs.
In addition, MET Group is developing very dynamically, as exemplified by its entry into the Czech market earlier this year and the purchase of a majority stake in the energy sales company MEGA in Belgium a few weeks ago. Poland was therefore a natural direction for the development of the entire Group.
What benefits can Polish companies gain from the presence of MET?
MET Group is a large European company with 18 years of experience and a presence in 21 countries. We are one of the largest independent gas trading players in Europe, with extensive resources and our own assets.
The scale of MET Group's operations is evidenced by the fact that the company has built one of the largest energy trading floors in Europe at its headquarters in Switzerland, with access to most European markets, the ability to conduct cross-border transactions, and also access to global markets, such as sourcing LNG from the US, for example.
Our goal is to leverage this advantage and provide entrepreneurs with access to modern and flexible solutions based not only on the local, but also on international markets. Our international resources, knowledge, and experience will have a tangible impact on Polish clients.
Gas and LNG are the foundation of the company's offer
What role will natural gas and LNG play in MET Polska's operations?
MET Group began its operations by trading gas in Europe. We are one of the leading companies in terms of gas volumes on European markets, have our own gas storage facilities, and conduct cross-border transactions. In Poland, this will be a key element of our offering to end customers and gas-based energy producers.
We have one of the most geographically diverse LNG import structures in Europe. Both natural gas and LNG are crucial to securing the energy supply needed to continue Europe's green transition. They support the switch from coal to gas and complement weather-dependent renewable energy sources.
Is MET also planning investments in renewable energy in Poland?
MET Group is developing renewable energy assets across Europe, and Poland is one of the markets being analysed for these projects. However, our current focus is primarily on gas and electricity trading and sales.
The company's activities will focus on supporting large, energy-intensive enterprises, as well as SMEs and renewable energy producers. How?
In Poland, we will sell gas and energy on a B2B basis to small, medium, and large end users. We want to provide customers with solutions that will help them to secure energy and gas prices for the long term, for example for five years, whilst also diversifying supply sources, which is particularly important given the current geopolitical situation.
We also see our role as a partner and advisor who will be able to leverage international know-how and propose solutions tailored to the needs and scale of the business, such as PPA contracts in various models, products based on foreign indices, or energy or gas contracts indexed to industrial products targeted at specific producers, such as steel or ammonia.
Transformation Challenges: Prices, Decarbonization, Infrastructure
Which energy challenges for our country do you consider the most urgent?
The Polish market faces many challenges. One of the most pressing is volatile energy prices in short-term markets, which require innovation and flexible solutions. Environmental issues and the requirements for decarbonization also remain a challenge, particularly for energy-intensive industries.
How do you assess the role of natural gas in the Polish energy mix over the next 10–15 years, given the growing importance of renewable energy and the pressure to decarbonize? What are the alternatives to gas?
Gas will continue to play an important role in the energy mix for the foreseeable future, remaining a significant energy source in Europe in the next 20 to 25 years. The growing amount of solar and wind energy entering the grid makes matching energy supply and demand increasingly challenging.
Until energy storage solutions become available on a large scale and can fully take over this role, natural gas remains the primary source of the necessary flexibility.
Will gas serve as a transition fuel, or do you see a long-term place for it in Poland's energy strategy?
The ultimate role of gas in Poland's long-term energy strategy will depend on many factors, including energy policy, technological progress, energy prices, and international and domestic environmental regulations.
Gas can be an important element in the energy transition, and its long-term role will evolve as technology, markets and policies change. Maintaining gas in the energy mix can help diversify energy sources and increase Poland's energy security, especially in the context of the gradual phase-out of coal.
What challenges – infrastructural, regulatory or economic – may determine the future of gas in the domestic energy sector?
There are several key challenges that could impact the future development and use of gas. Among the most important are the need to expand and modernize transmission and distribution networks. Gas must be transported from import or production points to consumers. This requires extensive and modern infrastructure, and such investments are costly and time-consuming.
To manage fluctuations in demand and supply, having adequate storage capacity is crucial, which also generates additional costs. Operating as MET Group, with a presence in 32 domestic gas markets and 44 international trading hubs, we are able to support Polish businesses in managing these infrastructural and economic challenges.
Renewable energy, gas and nuclear – their role in the mix until 2040
What, in your opinion, will be the optimal share of individual energy sources – gas, renewable energy and nuclear – in the Polish mix by 2040?
Poland's energy mix by 2040 should be a blend of various solutions. At MET Polska, we advocate technological openness because, ultimately, the market will determine what works best. Gas will be used much longer than many currently believe. As I mentioned, it could be for the next 20–25 years.
Can Poland achieve its climate goals without significantly accelerating investments in renewable energy sources?
Poland is largely dependent on coal-fired generation, therefore in order to achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, both infrastructure investments and the pursuit of a properly balanced energy mix are necessary.
The development of renewable energy sources is a natural direction but, taking into account the necessary investments in the development of transmission networks, it will be a long and demanding process.
What strategic decisions of the government and the energy sector will be key to shaping the mix in the coming years?
Decisions in the energy sector, which will be crucial for shaping the energy mix for the coming years, come down primarily to supporting technologies that will have a positive impact on the local economy and will be consistent with global trends in CO2 emissions reductions, along with the necessary infrastructure.
Increasing the share of renewable energy in the energy mix requires stabilization, and this requires stabilizing technologies, such as gas. Investments in gas infrastructure can be considered as a way to increase energy security and system flexibility. The impact of these decisions will have long-term consequences for the energy mix, security of supply, and energy prices.
About MET Group
MET Polska is part of MET Group, an integrated European energy company headquartered in Switzerland. The company owns assets and operates in the natural gas and electricity markets. MET is present in 21 countries through subsidiaries, in 32 domestic gas markets, and in 44 international trading hubs. In 2024, the MET Group's consolidated sales revenues amounted to €17.9 billion, with a total traded volume of natural gas amounting to 140 BCM and total traded electricity of 76 TWh.