EU Energy Ministers Urgently Discuss the Issue of 'Cutting Gas'

EU energy ministers held an emergency meeting in Brussels on the 2nd to discuss the impact of the situation in Russia and Ukraine on the EU's energy supply, especially how to deal with Russia's suspension of natural gas supplies to EU countries.

The European Commissioner in charge of energy affairs, Kadri Simsson, held a press conference after the meeting, saying that Gazprom has suspended gas supply to Poland and Bulgaria, and any EU member state may become the next "gas cutoff" target.

Simson said that opening a special account in Gazprom Bank through the exchange mechanism managed by the Russian government to settle natural gas costs in rubles is a violation of EU sanctions against Russia. Many European energy companies will make their next payments to Russia in mid-May. The EU will guide companies on how to comply with current sanctions.

Simsson said that there is no direct risk to the security of gas supply in Europe at present, and the gas supply of Poland and Bulgaria has been solved through alternative routes in Greece and Germany. In addition, the gas line between Poland and Lithuania was put into operation on the 1st.

In order to deal with possible emergencies, Simsson said that it is imperative to carry out three aspects of work: first, to improve the emergency plan for gas supply according to the latest situation; second, to ensure the gas storage before the next heating season; Supply diversification.

On March 31, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a presidential decree on the settlement of natural gas trade in rubles with "unfriendly" countries and regions. Gazprom announced on April 27 that it would suspend gas supply to the two countries from the same day because it did not receive payments for April gas in rubles from companies in Bulgaria and Poland.

Russian energy occupies an important position in the energy supply of European countries. About 40% of the natural gas and 30% of the oil required by the EU are imported from Russia.