In response to this decision, Gazprom announced the termination of supplies from May 31, 2022
The leading Dutch energy company Gasterra refused to comply with the requirements of the Russian side on the new gas payment system in rubles. The corresponding statement was published on the company’s website.
The report notes that in response to GasTerra’s decision, Gazprom announced the cessation of supplies from May 31, 2022.
GasTerra explained its decision not to pay for Russian gas by the fact that this could lead to a violation of sanctions imposed by the European Union, as well as by the existing financial and operational risks associated with the required payment option.
Earlier it was reported that the leading Danish energy company Ørsted has until May 31 to make a payment for gas supplies from Russia, but does not intend to do this in rubles, as required by the Russian side. In this regard, as TASS reported, the company admitted that Gazprom would turn off the valve for it.
Recall that on March 31, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree concerning gas trade with “unfriendly” countries for Russian rubles. As the head of state said at the time, the existing contracts for the supply of gas will be stopped if its European buyers do not fulfill the requirement in question.
According to the decree, in order to pay for gas, Western countries will be required to open ruble accounts with Gazprombank, which did not fall under the sanctions. The bank will sell the currency, which will be credited by buyers of Russian gas. Moscow will regard as a breach of contracts the refusal of gas buyers from “unfriendly” countries to pay for it in rubles.
