A sudden stoppage would have far-reaching consequences for Austria, according to the country’s energy ministry
Austria’s Energy Ministry has warned of a “massive risk” from a sudden stoppage of Russian natural gas due to the EU member’s heavy reliance on fuel from the sanctions-hit country, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.
European gas prices started soaring last week over supply concerns, after Ukrainian forces launched their cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region. One of the towns affected by the clashes was Sudzha, located some 9km from the border. The town is home to the last remaining gas metering station in operation between Ukraine and Russia.
“As long as there is a dependency on Russian gas supplies, there is a massive risk of a corresponding supply failure with far-reaching consequences,” the Austrian energy ministry wrote late on Monday, according to the report. “We must end Austria’s dependency on Russian gas supplies as soon as possible,” it reportedly urged.
Vienna has been seeking to end its decades-long dependency on affordable Russian gas since the start of the Ukraine conflict. However, it has failed to find alternative providers, as imports from other countries have proven to be much more expensive.
Austria’s imports of Russian gas reached pre-Ukraine conflict levels last year, as the country imported almost double the amount of gas its economy needed. Stable Russian gas supplies and increased shipments allowed Vienna to become a net energy exporter for the first time in twenty years.
Earlier this month, media reported that Austria’s ruling coalition has pledged to end Russian gas imports by 2027 as part of a broader transformation of the country’s energy system. The government is expected to present a detailed road map ahead of national elections on September 29.
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