The president of the European Commission on Saturday accused Russia of once again using energy “as a weapon” by cutting off gas to Austria, but said the EU has full deposits and will face blackmail from President Vladimir Putin.
“Once again, Putin is using energy as a weapon. You are trying to blackmail Austria and Europe by cutting off gas supplies“, said Ursula von der Leyen in a message on social media.
The president of the European Commission said that the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) are “prepared” to face Vladimir Putin’s “blackmail” and “ready for winter” as “gas deposits across the EU are full “.
Austria, which until now purchased more than 80% of the gas it consumes from Russia, is forced to do without supplies from the Russian state consortium Gazprom to the Austrian group OMV from today onwards.
At a press conference on Friday, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer denounced that Gazprom tried to put pressure on Austria by repeatedly failing to supply gas, with the aim being for Vienna to withdraw from the sanctions policy that the EU imposes on the Kremlin. for the war in Ukraine.
“We will not allow anyone to blackmail us. Not even the Russian President. We will not allow Putin’s Government, or Putin himself, to bring us to our knees,” said the Chancellor, guaranteeing at the same time that gas supplies to the Austrians are guaranteed during all cold months.
According to Nehammer, gas storage in the deposits is at 93%, so, together with the state strategic reserve, there are 94.5 TWh (terawatts/hour) of gas stored.
“This is more than the annual need for the whole of Austria. In 2023, it was 75.6 Twh,” he said.
The alternative gas comes from Norway, either from OMV’s own production or in the form of liquefied natural gas, which arrives by ship in Germany or Italy, OMV president Alfred Stern told the Austrian news agency APA.
According to official data, in February 2022, a month before the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Austria purchased 79% of its gas from Gazprom, a percentage that has been increasing. This summer, Austria imported 90% of its gas from Russia, some of it through Ukraine.
OMV, Austria’s largest hydrocarbon company with a 31.5% state stake, has repeatedly said it is committed to continuing to buy gas from Gazprom until 2040, fulfilling the agreement signed in 2018.
In 1968, Austria was the first Western country to sign a gas import agreement with the then Soviet Union.
Source: www.jornaldenegocios.pt
