Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has signaled a strong stance on the Haidach underground storage facility, warning that if the facility is not kept full of gas, Austria will reclaim control from Gazprom and redirect supplies to other suppliers. In recent remarks captured by media outlets, he stressed the government’s commitment to ensuring energy security and reliability for Austrian households and industries, even amid a volatile global gas market.
Nehammer emphasized that the government would vigilantly monitor developments surrounding Gazprom and the Haidach facility. He stated that should Russia’s state-controlled gas company fail to meet storage requirements, Austria would take the necessary steps to transfer control of the facility to alternative suppliers or storage partners. The aim, he indicated, is to safeguard the country from potential supply disruptions and price shocks that could ripple through the economy.
Leonora Gewessler, who previously headed Austria’s energy ministry, weighed in on the broader energy landscape. She noted that phasing out Russian gas would be a lengthy process, pointing to the heavy reliance built up over decades. Gewessler described the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as forcing Austria to confront a difficult reality about its energy dependencies, reminding citizens and businesses that transition plans must be managed with care to maintain affordability and security.
Austria has long maintained deep, historically rooted ties to Russian energy, a relationship that has shaped its energy mix for years. The country secured a long-term gas contract extending to 2040, a factor that has informed policy decisions and strategic planning in the energy sector. Analysts often describe this linkage as a defining element of Austria’s energy strategy, influencing how the nation negotiates supply lines, storage needs, and diversification efforts.
Against this backdrop, Margarethe Schrambeck, who served as the minister responsible for digitization and the economy, reiterated that Austria remains cautious about any broad embargo on Russian gas. She asserted that imposing sanctions or disruptions to gas flows would mark a red line for Austria, reflecting concerns about potential economic consequences and the need to balance political aims with practical energy considerations. The comments underscored a pragmatic approach to energy policy, one that seeks to diversify where possible while maintaining stable, affordable supplies for the public and for industry.