Gazprom

Poland and Bulgaria said Russian energy giant Gazprom's decision to halt natural gas supplies to them won't cause unbearable problems as they either have enough gas stored, or have alternatives to draw on.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called Gazprom's move "a direct attack on Poland, revenge for the sanctions we imposed", in relation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer announced on Wednesday that his government, along with Austrian oil company OMV, has agreed to pay for Russian gas imports in rubles.

"Gazprom's announcement that it will unilaterally cut off gas supplies to customers in Europe is another attempt by Russia to use gas as a tool for extortion," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. According to her, Gazprom's decision is unjustified and unacceptable and once again shows Russia's unreliability as a gas supplier.

Gazprom has completely cut off supplies to Bulgargaz and PGNiG because the countries do not pay in rubles for fuel.

This was announced by the holding, quoted by Reuters and TASS.

Deliveries will be suspended until payments are made, the concern added.

Transit through the two countries could be halted in the event of an illegal Russian gas withdrawal, Gazprom warned.

"Yesterday, a letter was received from Gazprom Export, stating the suspension of natural gas supplies to Bulgaria. This should be confirmed in practice in minutes.

"At this stage, Russian gas supplies to Bulgaria have not been interrupted so far," Vladimir Malinov, executive director of the Bulgarian gas network operator Bulgartransgaz, told Reuters.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Energy announced that Gazprom had informed the Bulgarian state gas company Bulgargaz that it would suspend gas supplies from Wednesday.

Gas supplies to Poland from Russia have been restored. This is shown by data from the network of gas transmission operators of the European Union on Wednesday, quoted by Reuters.

Today, Bulgargaz received a notification that natural gas supplies from Gazprom Export will be suspended as of April 27.

"The Bulgarian side has fully fulfilled its obligations and has made all payments required under this agreement, in a timely manner, strictly and in accordance with its clauses," the energy ministry said tonight.

The department also states:

Moldovagaz said on Tuesday it had asked Russian energy giant Gazprom, which holds a 64 per cent stake in the company, for more time to conduct an audit of historical debts beyond a May 1 deadline amid fears of a cut-off in gas supplies.

British energy giant Shell said yesterday that its decision to pull out of Russia in response to the country's invasion of Ukraine has already cost the international energy giant as much as $5 billion.