Russian company Gazprom announced this Tuesday (31/05) that it has completely cut natural gas supplies to the Netherlands. The move is in retaliation for Dutch energy operator GasTerra’s refusal to pay for gas imports in rubles.
Thus, the Netherlands joins Poland, Bulgaria and Finland, which cut their gas imports from Russia to Moscow.
Although Gazprom informed GasTerra that fuel payments must be made in Russian currency, in April it said it was not paid until 30 May for gas supplies to the Netherlands.
In March, in response to international sanctions after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow said it would only accept payments for its gas in rubles, and that buyers would have to open a bank account in Russia to increase the gas’s staggering value. . country currency.
European buyers accused the Russians of violating the contract and “blackmailing”, as Moscow made it clear that it would cut off supplies to anyone who did not meet the new requirement.
Netherlands rule out supply threat
GasTerra on Monday said it expects Russian gas to be cut off because it has decided not to meet Gazprom’s unilateral demands.
GasTerra announced that the decision of the Russian company should prevent the delivery of 2 billion cubic meters of gas to the Netherlands by October. Energy giants Shell and Esso, Dutch gas company EBN, and the company, co-owned by the Dutch state with a 10% stake, said it expected the cut by purchasing gas from other sources.
“HE [o corte] “It is not seen as a threat to our supply,” said Pieter ten Bruggencate, spokesman for the Dutch Ministry of Economy.
44% of the energy consumed in the Netherlands is based on gas, but only about 15% of this gas comes from Russia, which means around 6 billion cubic meters per year according to government data. The country had previously announced plans to stop using Russian fossil fuels by the end of the year. On average, 40% of the gas consumed in the EU as a whole comes from Russia.
On Monday, Dutch company GasTerra, as well as Danish company Orsted, warned of the risk of Russia interrupting gas supplies to the country, which refuses to pay rubles for fuel.
Cutbacks in Russian gas supply have increased Europe’s already high gas prices and inflation, prompting governments and companies across the continent to seek alternatives.
On Monday, European Union leaders agreed to reduce Russia’s oil imports, increasing pressure on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
source: Noticias
