THE Russian energy group Gazprom suspends the supply of natural gas to Austria from tomorrow, due to the legal dispute between the two sides, which ended with the award a fine of 230 million euros (plus interest and costs) to the Austrian semi-state energy company OMV.

As OMV announced, its aim was to offset this compensation with its obligations to Gazprom, which the Russian side rejected. “The behavior of the Russian Gazprom proves today once again that the Russia is not a (reliable) partner“, said Environment Minister Leonore Gevesler (Greens) and emphasized that with the interruption of natural gas delivery, the risk of extortion from the other side also disappears.

THE chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) stated before his side that what happened now was considered expected from the beginning of the war in Ukraine. “We have prepared for exactly this scenario, always with the understanding that Austria cannot be blackmailed. We have done our homework“, he assured.

The information from Gazprom that the interruption of natural gas supply to Austria will start tomorrow at 06:00 (local time) came only today and concerns 7,400 MWh/h. However, it remains unclear whether the natural gas will not even reach Austria or only OMV, as it has become known from Ukraine that Gazprom has announced for tomorrow the shipment of exactly the same amount of gas to Western Europe as in the previous days. It is therefore considered possible, the Austrian newspaper “Der Standard” reported, that Russian natural gas will still reach the Baumgarten hub in Austria, but only for other Gazprom customers, Hungary or Slovakia.

In any case OMV states that it is prepared for the situation as it exists today. It has now secured alternative suppliers, mainly from Norway, while placing orders for liquefied natural gas (LNG). “OMV assures that it can supply the contractually guaranteed volumes of natural gas to its customers, even in the event of a possible supply interruption by Gazprom Export,” the company said in a statement.

As they broadcast the Austrian MMWell, it is not yet clear whether the current situation will be a reason for OMV to completely withdraw from its contract with Gazprom, which normally expired in 2040.The legal strategy cannot be made public“, said a representative of the Austrian company. However, the contract between Russia and Ukraine for the transit of natural gas expires in December, and it is also unknown whether from January 1, 2025 gas will be delivered to Europe via Ukraine.