Orlen signals confidence as it prepares for arbitration fight with Venture Global

Orlen’s leadership expressed growing confidence this week as the company prepared for its arbitration fight with Venture Global. The Polish energy group believes recent legal outcomes in the LNG sector strengthen its position, and executives say the company now sees a clearer path ahead.

During a press briefing in Gdansk, CEO Ireneusz Fafara explained that he reviewed the case with Orlen’s legal team. He said the meeting helped settle several doubts. Moreover, he pointed to BP’s recent arbitration win against the same U.S. exporter and noted that this decision suggests long-term LNG contracts can still be enforced. Shell pursued a similar claim earlier this year, although it did not secure the same result. Even so, Orlen argues that BP’s victory offers an important signal for the broader industry.

Europe watches as LNG contract tensions grow

Orlen and several other European companies accuse Venture Global of ignoring agreed delivery schedules from its Calcasieu Pass facility in Louisiana. They claim the exporter redirected cargoes to the spot market because prices were higher there. Consequently, they argue that the move undermined long-term contracts that European buyers rely on for supply stability.

Chief Financial Officer Slawomir Jedrzejczyk said the arbitration hearings will begin in late 2026. He added that a final decision will probably come after that. Orlen already receives LNG under its first agreement with Venture Global. Deliveries under its second contract will begin in the last quarter of 2026.

The case carries broader implications. Europe depends on long-term LNG deals to secure steady supplies, especially as global demand rises. Therefore, the ruling may influence how future contracts are negotiated and how companies enforce them. It may also shape the balance of power between suppliers and buyers at a time when energy markets are undergoing rapid change.