On the morning of April 27, Gazprom announced that it had completely suspended gas supplies to Polish PGNiG and Bulgarian Bulgargaz. The payment deadline in rubles for the energy resources supplied expired a day ago. Both Warsaw and Sofia refused to pay Gazprom under the new plan.
Gazprom Export has notified Bulgargaz and PGNiG that gas supply has been suspended as of April 27 until payment is made in accordance with the procedure determined by the Decree Law. Message Russian company.
Gazprom also reminded that Bulgaria and Poland are transit countries.
The Holding warned that in case of unauthorized gas withdrawal from transit volumes, the transit supply will decrease as much as this volume.
On April 26, the Bulgarian Ministry of Energy announced that Gazprom Export has notified Bulgargaz that the supply has been completely stopped. The country’s Minister of Energy Alexander Nikolov commented on the refusal to pay bills in rubles pointedThe scheme proposed by Russia involves significant risks: Gazprombank, which is responsible for converting payments into rubles, may not comply with the requirements.
In the evening of the same day, PGNiG confirmed that it had received a similar warning from Gazprom.
How did the EU react?
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission named Gazprom’s decision is “another attempt” by Russia to use gas as a “blackmail tool”. “This is unfair and unacceptable. This shows once again the unreliability of Russia as a gas supplier,” he said.
He said the European Union is ready for such a scenario and is working to ensure alternative supplies and gas storage facilities at the highest possible level throughout the EU.
“A meeting of the coordination group on gas is being held. We are planning our coordinated EU response. We will also continue to work with international partners to secure alternative gas flows. And I will continue to work with European and world leaders to ensure the security of energy supply in Europe,” von der Leyen promised.
“Europeans can rest assured that we stand in unity and full solidarity with Member States facing this new challenge. Europeans can count on our full support,” the EC president summarized.
TASS resource at EU institutions in Brussels saidHe said the EU will temporarily increase gas purchases from Russia through countries willing to pay in rubles.
“On the situation in Poland and Bulgaria, an emergency meeting of the Gas Coordination Group took place today. One of the interim solutions was a significant increase in gas purchases from Russia through the remaining channels, which will allow Poland and Bulgaria to purchase additional volumes of gas on the European market, ”the statement said.
He said Poland and Bulgaria are currently not experiencing gas shortages and have the technical capability to receive both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas from the European market.
How did the market react
The spot price of gas in Europe rose quarter-on-quarter to above $1,300/thousand at the opening of trade on Wednesday, after Gazprom’s announcement regarding the cessation of supplies to Poland and Bulgaria. cube m. May futures on TTF Exchange ICE Futures opened About $1,375 per 1,000 cubic feet ($1,089 at the close of the stock market on April 26).
The ruble strengthened against the dollar and euro when it began trading on the Moscow Stock Exchange. American currency cost 72.91 rubles. (Close on Tuesday -61.25 kopecks), Europe – 76,605 rubles. (-22.5 kopecks).
at 13:50 Moscow time well dollar It was 72.55 rubles, the course Euro – 75.86 rubles.
What Does the Kremlin Say?
Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov highlightedThe basis for the resumption of gas supply from Russia will be payment for gas only in rubles. The Kremlin also refused to consider cutting gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria as blackmail and breach of contract.
“This is not blackmail (…) We strongly disagree with this definition,” Peskov told reporters. “Russia has been and continues to be a reliable supplier of energy sources to its consumers, and Russia remains committed to its contractual obligations.”
According to the spokesperson, the new payment mechanism was necessary in connection with “unprecedented unfriendly steps taken by unfriendly countries against us”. “Everything required the transition to a new payment system. There is no question of blackmail here, all these new methods have already been brought to the attention of buyers, ”the Kremlin representative summarized.
Who accepted the terms of the Russian Federation
In total, there are 21 companies on the list of gas importers from “unfriendly” countries, for which new payment rules have been introduced. According to reports, four buyers have already paid for the material in rubles. Bloomberg He cites a source close to Gazprom.
According to the agency’s interlocutor, new cuts in Russian gas supply are unlikely to occur before mid-May: the next payment dates will come after May 15. The source claims that ten European companies have opened accounts with Gazprombank.
Formerly TASS reported About the permission of the Austrian OMV to execute settlements in rubles, but Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer named this information is fake.
Russian gas importer to Germany, energy conglomerate Uniper, taking into account He pays for gas in Russian currency and discusses it with the German authorities. The company must make the next payment at the end of May.
Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.