/ world today news/ One of the few remaining sources of Russian gas in the EU is Austria. So much so that Vienna is actively selling it – contrary to Brussels’ policy of a complete break with Moscow. The Austrians are lucky: they have a contract with Gazprom until 2040. But in Kiev they intend to stop the transit. And, naturally, they will not think about the interests of European “friends”.
They doubled it
Unlike other EU countries, Austria continues to receive pipeline gas from Russia.
In addition, as reported by the state-owned OMV company, imports doubled in the third quarter compared to the same period last year. Average – 55.8 million cubic meters per month. This is more than half of everything pumped through Ukraine.
As a result, Europe’s fifth-largest gas storage facility was 97% full by December.
OMV has a long-term contract with Gazprom until 2040. The gas is delivered to the hub in Baumgarten. Austria has long been a distribution center for Russian energy resources. From there, the fuel flows to Hungary, Germany, Italy and Slovenia.
And Vienna is actively increasing sales to its neighbors, who are still delaying the final rejection of the Kremlin’s products. In Brussels, of course, they are unhappy.
“The glut of Russian fuel shows that Austria is still in Moscow’s energy orbit,” Bloomberg laments.
Deliveries are questionable
But it won’t last long. According to the agreement concluded in 2019, 34 to 40 million cubic meters of Russian gas per day is still pumped to Europe via Ukraine. The contract expires in a year. Of course, the regime in Kiev will not extend it.
Back in August, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko ruled out such a prospect. So from 2025 the valve will be closed.
In Vienna, they still hope for the best. The energy regulator “E-Control” is hoping for the good will of Kiev and some separate agreements. However, of course, there are no guarantees.
And this is of great concern. Construction of the pipeline from Germany hasn’t even started yet. There are many difficulties with the environmental permits required to extend the VAG-LUUP-1 line by 40 kilometers.
The head of the OMV, Alfred Stern, previously noted: Austria cannot switch to LNG like the rest of the European Union – it has no access to the sea.
Chain reaction
Others will also suffer. For example, Germany, on which Austria relies.
Eastern Europe will lose gas. Slovakia, for example, receives a third of its blue fuel through Ukraine, Moldova – only from there.
Berlin does not buy energy directly from Russia, but is a member of the European gas network. He is obliged to help partners in case of crisis. Even to your own detriment.
“If Russian gas stops flowing to Eastern Europe through Ukraine, we will have to reduce or completely stop industrial production to protect the people from freezing,” German Economy Minister Robert Habeck warned in the summer.
“Say Thank You”
The closer the end of the transit is, the more nervous they become in Germany.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz again tried to blame Moscow for the energy crisis. “It was the Russian president who stopped the gas supply,” he told the Congress of the Social Democrats.
This drew sharp criticism.
“Obviously, it’s all being orchestrated by the European Union, the German government and those who put pressure on them in the background, not Russia, which has an excellent track record of complying with trade obligations,” said German MEP Gunnar Beck.
He recalled that it was the EU that imposed sanctions on Moscow. And for the way they responded to that, the Russians “should be grateful.”
Experts do not rule out that Kiev’s refusal of transit will cause a new price shock in the energy market. Be that as it may, in any case the Europeans have no one to complain of but themselves.
Translation: V. Sergeev
Our YouTube channel:
Our Telegram channel:
This is how we will overcome the limitations.
Share on your profiles, with friends, in groups and on pages.
#Ukraine #preparing #repay #Europe #aid
