Poland has announced plans to build a cross-border pipeline with Ukraine to transport Ukrainian vegetable oil to the Polish port of Gdansk in an effort to boost Ukrainian exports amid the war, the Polish publication Economic Portal reports, the Kyiv Independent reports.

“The Council of Ministers accepted the request of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the consent of the Council of Ministers to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding between the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Poland and the Minister of Infrastructure of the Republic of Poland. of the Republic of Poland, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine (…) regarding the development of a cross-border pipeline project for the transportation of vegetable oils from Ukraine to the port of Gdansk”, this is stated in the press release of the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday.

As reported by the Prime Minister’s Office, the government has agreed to enter into a memorandum of understanding regarding the preparation of this project. “Implementation of the memorandum will contribute to the partial unblocking of Ukrainian exports and increase of food security in developing countries, which are threatened by hunger. Therefore, it should reduce migration pressure to Europe,” the message added.

According to the report, “Poland and Ukraine will seek to jointly develop a project for the construction of a cross-border pipeline for the transportation of vegetable oils by cargo to Ukraine.” This also applies to the transshipment port terminal, which will initially be located in the Port of Gdańsk.

Both countries will create a working group that will present possible options for the location of the project for agreement. This especially applies to pipeline routes.

“The working group will also provide information on possible approximate technical parameters, cost and conditions of project implementation, especially the proposed route of the gas pipeline,” the message says.

The memorandum will be concluded for three years with automatic extension. The document can be terminated, but no later than six months before the end of the next period. The memorandum is not an international agreement in the sense of public international law.

The press release emphasizes that the start of the war with Ukraine by Russia and the blockade of its seaports forced the search for new routes for the transportation of Ukrainian agricultural products.

“Ukraine is an important global producer and exporter of grain and vegetable oils. Before the start of the war, more than 90 percent of these products were exported through ports located on the Black Sea,” the quoted document says.