Finnish energy company Gassum confirmed this Saturday that the Russian gas giant Gazprom has cut off the gas supply in the nordic country at first hour of the morning. The company had refused to pay the hydrocarbon in rublesa requirement of the Kremlin to avoid the sanctions imposed by the European Union. With this measure, Finland loses its largest supplier natural gas. However, Gasum has reiterated that the service is guaranteed for the next few months. The threat has been fulfilled after the Nordic country formally requested, together with Sweden, to join NATO.
“Imports of gas through the point of entry of Imatra“, the Finnish company said in a statement. Gazprom supplies about 92% of all the gas consumed by the Nordic country, especially in the Forest industry and in processing chemical products.
Finland imported nearly 2,200 million cubic meters of natural gas in 2021, at a cost of 927.5 million euros, although this fuel accounts for barely 6% of all the energy consumed by the Nordic country.
Supply through the gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia
In addition to maintaining service through the Balticconnector gas pipeline, Gasum has indicated that its network of seasons gas service will continue to operate normally. In an attempt to reduce dependency on the gas in Russianone month ago Finland agreed with Estonia jointly lease a floating liquefied natural gas terminal. Thus, the hydrocarbon brought by ships from other producing countries will be stored there starting this fall.
Third ‘punished’ by Russia
Finland is the third country in the European Union, after Poland Y Bulgariawhich stops receiving Russian gas for not wanting to bow to Moscow’s demands: the Kremlin obliges its clients to National currency to stop the collapse of its value and avoid the economic sanctions imposed on gas payments.
Power cut off
In the case of Finland, which on Wednesday formally submitted its application for NATO membership ignoring the Kremlin’s threats, the Russian gas supply cut-off is added to that of electricity. Just a week ago, the Russian energy company Inter RAO stopped supplying electricity to the Finnish market, alleging “problems receiving payments & rdquor ;.
Against EC guidelines
This decision was in line with the guidelines of the European Comissionwhich considered that payment in Russian currency went against the economic sanctions of the European Union. Gasum, the largest distributor of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the Nordic countries, stated that it has a long-term gas supply contract with Gazprom, the details of which the two companies have been negotiating since autumn 2021. In this context, it reported that he has no choice but to “submit the arbitration contract“.
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The Kremlin has already launched countermeasures and has announced that it will create 12 military units on its western border before the end of the year. In addition, Russia already closed the gas tap to Poland and Bulgaria last month, by virtue of a decree with which the Russian president, Vladimir Putinsought to penalize “hostile” countries by forcing them to open two accounts at Gazprombank, one in foreign currency and the other in rubles.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister alexander novakassured on Thursday that half of the 54 foreign buyers of gas they had accepted this condition and, therefore, the contracts are not in danger, although he did not detail the exact list.