Gazprom, Russia's state-controlled gas company, halted natural gas deliveries to Austria early Saturday, Vienna-based utility company OMV has confirmed. The suspension follows OMV's decision to cease payments to offset the $242 million arbitration award it secured from the International Chamber of Commerce due to a prior supply cut to its German branch. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer reassured the public of the country's secure alternative fuel resources for the upcoming winter during a press conference on Friday.
The official gas cutoff began at 6am on Saturday, OMV reported via email. Despite concerns, OMV stated on Wednesday that Austria's storage facilities are filled to more than 90%, ensuring sufficient reserves to meet customer demands even amid Gazprom's latest supply disruption. This move follows Gazprom's broader cut in gas supplies to Europe, initiated in 2022 amid disputes over Russia's request that payments be made in rubles.
Austria has traditionally been heavily reliant on Russian natural gas and sourced up to 98% of its supplies from Russia as recently as December of last year, according to Energy Minister Lenore Gewessler. In response to the broader European supply challenges, European nations have been seeking alternative, often more expensive, gas supplies, including liquefied natural gas shipments from the US and Qatar. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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