MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian fuel producer Gazprom (MCX:) mentioned it might ship 42.4 million cubic metres of fuel to Europe through Ukraine on Saturday, the identical quantity as on Friday, regardless of expectations of fuel provides cuts to Austria over a contractual dispute.
Russian Interfax information company cited information from European fuel pipeline operators as saying that fuel exports from Russia through Ukraine have been steady, whereas Austrian firm OMV was not among the many fuel recipients.
It mentioned OMV often accounted for round 40% of Russian fuel flows through Ukraine, or some 17 mcm per day. It was not instantly clear if the flows have been redirected.
Russia informed Austria on Friday it might droop fuel deliveries through Ukraine ranging from 0500 GMT on Saturday, in a improvement signalling an finish to Moscow’s final fuel flows to Europe.
Russia’s present five-year settlement with Ukraine expires in the long run of this 12 months, and Kyiv has repeatedly mentioned it’s not prepared to increase it amid the continuing navy battle.
Moscow’s suspension of fuel for Austria, the primary recipient of fuel through Ukraine, means Russia will now solely provide vital fuel volumes to Hungary and Slovakia, in Hungary’s case through a pipeline operating principally via Turkey.
In distinction, Russia met 40% of the European Union’s fuel wants earlier than Moscow despatched hundreds of its troops to Ukraine in 2022.
Russia shipped some 15 billion cubic metres of fuel through Ukraine in 2023, about 8% of peak Russian fuel flows to Europe through varied routes in 2018-2019, in response to information compiled by Reuters.
In 2023, the Ukraine transit route met 65% of fuel demand in Austria and its japanese neighbours Hungary and Slovakia, in response to the Worldwide Power Company.
