If it goes to Russia, western countries have had to pay for gas deliveries in rubles since Friday. Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) remains calm in this regard. During a visit to Berlin, he referred to existing contracts with Gazprom: “What’s in the bag, that’s gone”, emphasized the chancellor on the occasion of a visit to Berlin. He described Putin’s demand as a “political announcement”.
Putin had previously announced that countries that oppose the ruble as a means of payment would no longer receive gas and would be added to the list of ‘unfriendly countries’.
Nehammer: So far no document on change
Nehammer announced on Friday at a press conference in Berlin that OMV has not yet received a document about a contract change. As a contract partner of Gazprom, OMV has private contracts until 2040, which must be paid in euros and dollars. As they say in Austria: “What lies, that takes.” If an accompanying document is available, it would be checked whether it was in compliance with the sanctions or not. OMV is subject to the sanctions regime.
Gazprom and OMV: Contracts are in euros
The contracts between the Austrian OMV and the Russian Gazprom are denominated in euros. The domestic gas company was waiting for written information from the Russian contract partner. OMV guarantees “compliance with all applicable sanctions and legal provisions”.
Russian gas giant delivered to Europe on Friday as ordered
According to its own statements, Russian gas giant Gazprom will supply gas to Europe via Ukraine on Friday as ordered. The ordered delivery volume from European customers is 108.4 million cubic meters, after 109.5 million cubic meters on Thursday, the state-owned group announced. However, there is great fear in the economy that a crisis could break out if Moscow cuts off its gas supplies or if the West imposes an energy embargo on Russia.
Germany also insists on existing contracts
Meanwhile, the German government is also insisting that payments in euros or dollars continue to be made as contractually agreed. The exact effects of the changed payment methods are still unclear. Analysts in Moscow expect the system to come into full effect only in April and May. The German Ministry of Economy confirmed on Friday afternoon that the private gas supply contracts with Russia were valid and that the bills would be paid in euros.
Source: Krone
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