Exclusive-Russia's Gazprom declares force majeure on some gas supplies to Europe

By Julia Payne

LONDON -Russia’s Gazprom has declared drive majeure on fuel provides to Europe to no less than one main buyer, in keeping with a letter from Gazprom that may add to European fears of gas shortages.

Dated July 14 and seen by Reuters on Monday, the authorized drive of the letter is to protect Gazprom from compensation funds for disrupted provides, however dangers escalating tensions between Russia and the West over the invasion of Ukraine that Moscow calls a “particular navy operation”.

The letter mentioned Gazprom, which has a monopoly on Russian fuel exports by pipeline, couldn't fulfil its provide obligations due to “extraordinary” circumstances.

It mentioned the drive majeure clause, invoked to raise a enterprise from contractual obligations due to components past its management, was retroactively efficient from deliveries ranging from June 14.

A buying and selling supply, asking to not be recognized due to the sensitivity of the problem, mentioned the letter involved provides by means of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, a significant provide path to Germany and past.

Gazprom had no fast remark.

The Nord Stream 1 pipeline is shut for annual upkeep, which is supposed to be accomplished on July 21, however a few of Gazprom’s European prospects are nervous provides is not going to resume.

Certainly one of them, Austrian oil and fuel group OMV, mentioned on Monday it anticipated fuel deliveries from Russia by means of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to renew as deliberate.

TURBINEDELAY

Even earlier than Nord Stream started upkeep on July 11, Gazprom had on June 14 lowered shipments by means of the pipeline below the Baltic Sea to Germany, citing the delay of a turbine being maintained in Canada by gear provider Siemens Vitality.

Gazprom’s declaration of drive majeure is efficient from June 14, exonerating it from any compensation for shortfalls since then.

The European Union, which has imposed sanctions on Moscow, goals to cease utilizing Russian fossil fuels by 2027 however desires provides to proceed for now because it develops different sources.

Russian fuel provides have dropped through main routes, together with through Ukraine and Belarus and thru Nord Stream 1 below the Baltic Sea.

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post