Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Russia is now launching a new counter-offensive to the West. The country of President Vladimir Putin has cut off gas supplies to two European countries, Poland and Bulgaria.
Russian gas giant Gazprom announced this, Tuesday (26/4/2022) evening local time. This will take effect from this Wednesday.
Russia sends gas to Poland via operator PGNiG. Meanwhile, Bulgaria gets gas through the operator Bulgarian.
“On April 26, 2022, Gazprom notified PGNiG of its intention to completely suspend deliveries …on April 27,” PGNiG said.
“Bulgargaz received notification today, April 26, that the supply of natural gas from Gazprom will be stopped from April 27,” the Bulgarian Ministry of Economy said.
Collect CNBC International, this is the first time the suspension has actually been carried out by Russia after the attack on Ukraine, 24 February. Putin has previously hit Western buyers with obligations to pay for his energy, oil and gas, in rubles.
This was done to boost the Russian currency amid a fall due to sanctions. Europe, the United States (US) and a number of other allies have punished the Russian economy, by distancing it from the global financial system, asset freezes and trade bans.
Poland and Bulgaria, like most European countries, do enjoy Russian gas. However, when Putin implemented the ruble payment, the two countries rejected it because they considered it not in accordance with the contract.
Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister (PM) Mateusz Morawiecki said Poland’s gas storage was 76% full. The country is ready to get other supplies, such as from Norway.
Polish Climate Minister Anna Moscow stressed that Poland was ready to face such a situation after working for years to reduce its dependence on Russian energy sources. He said the country had been effectively “independent” on Russian gas for some time.
“There will be no gas shortage in Polish homes,” Moscow tweeted.
Poland itself has been working since the 1990s to disengage from Russian energy. Recently the country also stopped imports of Russian coal.
On the other hand, Bulgaria’s Energy ministry also said its gas operators had taken alternative agreement steps. Consumption restrictions have not yet been implemented.
Bulgaria alone receives 3.0 billion cubic meters of Russian gas. But indeed, his long-term contract with Gazprom will end in 2022.
It was also stated that Bulgaria had been trying alternative substitutes. This includes liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Greek and Turkish terminals.
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