All its countries The European Union agree that will not pay Russia directly in rubles for imports of Russian gassaid high-ranking European officials noting that the next payments are scheduled for May 20.
“What we know, and there is a consensus among all the Member States, is that no one is willing to pay,” an official told reporters, adding that the European Commission did not know how many buyers had open accounts for gas supply payments through Gazprombank.
FT: European countries are preparing to pay for Russian gas in rubles
European countries importing natural gas from Russia appear ready to agree to Russia’s demand for payments in rubles, the Financial Times reported today.
According to the report: “Some of Europe’s largest energy companies are preparing to use a new payment system for Russian gas demanded by the Kremlin, which critics say will undermine EU sanctions, threaten unity. of the bloc and will offer billions in cash to the Russian economy. “
As to which countries are preparing for such a move, FT reports: “Gas distributors in Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia plan to open ruble accounts with Gazprombank in Switzerland to meet Russia’s demand for payments in their own currency. These groups include two of the largest importers of Russian gas: Dunselendor-based Uniper and Vienna-based OMV.
According to the same sources, “negotiations between European buyers and Gazprom, the Russian state-controlled gas supplier, have intensified as payment deadlines approach.”
Bloomberg: The Italian Eni is thinking about it
According to Bloomberg, the Italian energy giant Eni is preparing to open accounts in rubles in Gazprombank, to pay the russian gas.
The agency notes that Eni is still awaiting instructions from the Italian government and EU authorities on the terms and possibility of using such accounts.
Representatives of the Italian energy company, however, did not comment on this information, however, the Italian giant described as “interpretation” the relevant news that had previously transmitted by Bloomberg
Earlier, Gazprom had cut off gas supplies to the Bulgarian company Bulgargaz and the Polish company PGNiG due to their refusal to pay in rubles.
Bloomberg also revealed that four European public companies have already paid Russia in rubles to buy gas, succumbing to pressure from Moscow. The names of the countries that paid Russia in rubles were not mentioned, although it was speculated that Italy and Austria were among them.
Meanwhile, gas importers in Poland and Bulgaria, who refused to comply with Kremlin orders, cut off gas supplies from Russia on Wednesday, a decision described by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. as equivalent to blackmail.
At the Council of Energy Ministers on Monday, Europe will decide how to pay Gazprom for Russian gas from now on.
This was stated today by the Minister of Energy, Costas Skrekas, speaking to SKAI. He added that Greece would pay Gazprom in a way that would not violate sanctions. and will ensure the energy security of the country.
According to Mr. Skrekas, our country will pay on May 20 the cargo it received for the previous month. As he explained, gas consumption reaches 50% and sometimes exceeds it.
Mr. Skrekas stated that all measures have been taken for the energy security of the country. Within a month, he stressed, we will have a new floating tank in Revythousa, while with the new liquefied gas installation in Alexandroupolis in 2023 we can say that we will be completely independent of Russian gas.
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