MOSCOW: Russian energy giant Gazprom has ceased gas supplies to Austria’s OMV, hours after Vienna confirmed receiving notice of the suspension. This marks another significant disruption in Europe’s energy ties with Russia since the onset of the Ukraine war.
While Gazprom continues to transport gas to Europe through Ukraine’s Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod pipeline, one of the last major Russian supply routes to Europe, this pipeline is also set to shut down at the end of 2024. Ukraine has declined to extend the current five-year transit agreement, which enables Siberian gas deliveries to Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Austria.
The suspension follows an arbitration ruling in favor of OMV regarding Gazprom’s unfulfilled supply obligations to its German subsidiary. Russia, once Europe’s largest natural gas supplier, has seen its presence in the region significantly diminish, leaving few remaining customers on the continent.
