REUTERS LEARNS HOW AUSTRIA'S REFUSAL HAS AFFECTED GAS SUPPLIES FROM RUSSIA TO THE EU

Gazprom supplies gas through Ukraine to Europe at the same level, despite the cessation of supplies by Austria's OMV. Reuters writes that these volumes are "finding new buyers or intermediaries". In particular, gas flows to Vienna through Slovakia

Gazprom continued to deliver gas through Ukraine to Europe at almost the same level as before, despite the cessation of supplies by Austrian OMV. The company's official representative Sergei Kupriyanov said that as of November 18, the planned volume of transit through Sudzha is 42.4 million cubic meters. m. The previous day's demand was the same.

Reuters, citing companies and sources, writes that OMV received about 17 million cubic meters of gas per day until the supply disruption, and now these volumes "are finding new buyers or intermediaries in Europe who are buying up the unsold gas."

According to data from the Slovak gas transmission operator Eustream, gas requests to Slovakia via Ukraine remained virtually unchanged compared to previous days, while export requests also remained stable. Volumes supplied to Austria from Slovakia also remained stable compared to the weekend when Vienna stopped receiving fuel from Gazprom, or about 17% below the average level before the supply cut.

Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic (which does not have a direct contract) continue to receive Russian gas “in significant volumes,” and the fuel is also supplied to Italy and Serbia, the agency notes.

The only route through which Russia currently supplies gas to the countries of Central and Western Europe is the transit line through Ukraine Urengoy - Pomary - Uzhgorod. The transit contract between Gazprom and Naftogaz expires at the end of 2024. Ukraine does not intend to extend it; the Russian authorities have declared their readiness for supplies through alternative routes.

On November 16, Gazprom stopped gas supplies to the Austrian OMV. This was preceded by the victory of the Austrian company's subsidiary in the arbitration due to the temporary suspension of Russian gas supplies in the fall of 2022. OMV decided to recover from the losing party 230 million euros plus interest and legal costs, while admitting the deterioration of relations under the contract, which will last until 2040, including the cessation of supplies.

According to Kleine Zeitung, in December 2023, 98 percent of Austria's gas imports came from Russian supplies, in January 2024 this figure dropped to 97 percent, and in February to 87 percent.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said that the country is preparing to cut off Russian gas supplies from the very beginning of the military operation in Ukraine. The politician promised that “no one will freeze in winter, no apartment will be cold.” The Chancellor clarified that the country’s gas storage facilities are 93% full, which corresponds to annual consumption. OMV also assured that there will be no problems with gas supplies thanks to the diversification of supplies.