The commercial tower of the Lakhta Center, headquarters of Russia’s gas giant, Gazprom in Saint Petersburg. Photo: AP
Four gas buyers in Europe already paid supplies in rubles as demanded by President Vladimir Putin, according to someone close to Russian gas giant Gazprom PJSC. The news came after Russia officially cut off gas to Poland and Bulgaria on Wednesday for non -payment for supply in rubles. as demanded by Moscow.
If other consumers refuse the Kremlin’s conditions (Moscow demands payment in rubles because it cannot receive dollars because of Western sanctions), no more gas cuts are ruled around the second half of May, when the following maturity is due, said a source on condition of anonymity.
Ten European companies have already opened bank accounts of Russian gas giant Gazprom, which are needed to meet Russia’s requests, the source said.
The scheme announced a few weeks ago by President Vladimir Putin provides for Russian gas importers to open two Gazprom bank accounts: one in rubles and one in foreign currency.
Totals that come in euros or dollars should be converted into rubles to complete the payment.
The European Union affirmed that this was a maneuver already violating penalties established by Western countries against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.
Gazprom’s headquarters in Saint Petersburg. Photo: AP
Supplies to Poland and Bulgaria were cut after they rejected Gazprom’s proposed mechanism for ruble payments, which the gas giant says does not violate European Union sanctions, according to the man. Russia supplies gas through gas pipelines to 23 European countries.
After the EU imposed sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, Moscow asked to pay it in rubles for shipments from April 1.
But the bloc told member states that the Kremlin’s proposed mechanism violated sanctions.
Clarín newsroom, with information from Bloomberg
ap
Source: Clarin
