Gazprom cuts supplies
April 28 (LNGJ) - Russian natural gas company Gazprom issued a statement from its headquarters in Saint Petersburg saying it had halted gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland over their refusal to pay for their gas in Russian roubles. “Gazprom has completely suspended gas supplies to Bulgargaz and PGNiG (Polish Oil and Gas Company) due to absence of payments in roubles,” said the Gazprom statement. “Payments for gas supplied from April 1 must be made in roubles using the new payments details, about which the counterparties were informed in a timely manner,” added Gazprom.
Poland and other members of the 27-nation European Union have refused to pay for their natural gas in roubles as Russia has demanded as a way of stabilizing and supporting the rouble, which has been weakened by Western sanctions. Poland's PGNiG said in a statement it would continue to monitor the situation and was prepared to obtain gas from other connections. Bulgaria's Energy Ministry said state gas company Bulgargaz had received a similar notice from Gazprom. Bulgaria is almost completely dependent on Gazprom for its gas supplies.
