Austria's gas dilemma: Russian supplies dip despite halt claims
Despite Austria's announcements about halting the import of Russian gas, deliveries have only slightly decreased. A decision regarding the transit agreement with Ukraine, which could affect the resource flow, is approaching. However, Austria assures that citizens will not be left in the cold.
Contrary to earlier declarations about stopping gas import from Russia to Austria, the quantity of delivered gas has only slightly decreased. A spokesman for Gas Connect, based in Vienna, reported this matter. Last week, the Austrian energy company OMV revealed that Gazprom, the Russian gas giant, had suspended gas deliveries due to a legal dispute. The day before, a representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained the reason for this suspension, according to dw.com.
Russian gas still flows to Austria
However, as reported, according to the representative of Gas Connect, there appear to be other recipients interested in purchasing gas reaching the Austrian hub in Baumgarten. He emphasized that the identities of these clients have not been publicly disclosed. Details regarding trading partners and bilateral transactions are unavailable to outsiders and are conducted through exchanges.
The gas price in Austria has increased slightly and remains favorable for customers, noted the Gas Connect spokesman, adding that Gazprom also maintains an interest in selling, as reported by dw.com.
Gazprom was supposed to halt deliveries to Austria
Earlier, Russian Gazprom halted natural gas deliveries to Austria, confirmed by OMV spokesperson Sylvia Shin in an interview with the DPA agency. Thus, earlier reports on this matter were confirmed. This decision resulted from a legal dispute between Gazprom and OMV, in which the International Chamber of Commerce sided with the Austrian company, awarding compensation of €230 million (approximately $243 million).
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer assured that the country is prepared for this situation and no one will freeze during the winter. Austrian gas storage facilities are well-stocked, and OMV has long-term agreements with other suppliers as well as transfer capacity from Germany and Italy. Additionally, receiving liquefied natural gas from the Netherlands is possible.
