Russia is working out methods for accepting payments for its gas exports in roubles, and it will take decisions in due course should European countries refuse to pay in the Russian currency, the Kremlin said on March 28.
At a meeting of EU leaders on Friday, no common position emerged on Russia's demand last week that "unfriendly" countries must pay in roubles, not euros, for its gas in the wake of the U.S. and European allies teaming up on a series of sanctions aimed at Russia.
Concerns over security of supply were enhanced after the demand, with companies and EU nations scrambling to understand the ramifications.
The Russian central bank, the government and Gazprom, which accounts for 40% of European gas imports, should present their proposals for rouble gas payments to President Vladimir Putin by March 31.
"We are not going to supply gas for free, this is clear," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a conference call. "In our situation, this is hardly possible and appropriate to engage in charity (with European customers)."
On Friday, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner advised German energy providers not to pay for Russian gas in roubles, in an interview with broadcaster Welt.
Italy will continue paying Russia for energy in euros, a top economic adviser to the Italian government said last week.
"The only big issue in Europe is gas and Russia is asking us to pay in roubles, which we don't have and it's not in the contract," Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said on March 28 at an industry event in the United Arab Emirates.
Poland's PGNiG, which has a contract with Gazprom until the end of the year, has also said it cannot simply switch to paying in roubles.
The EU aims to cut its dependency on Russian gas by two-thirds this year and end Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027.
On Friday, the U.S. said it will work to supply 15 Bcm of LNG to the EU this year.
U.S. LNG plants are producing at full capacity, and analysts say most of any additional U.S. gas sent to Europe would have to come from exports that would have gone elsewhere.
Russian gas exports to the EU were at around 155 Bcm last year.
Recommended Reading
TGS Commences Multiclient 3D Seismic Project Offshore Malaysia
2024-04-03 - TGS said the Ramform Sovereign survey vessel was dispatched to the Penyu Basin in March.
TGS, SLB to Conduct Engagement Phase 5 in GoM
2024-02-05 - TGS and SLB’s seventh program within the joint venture involves the acquisition of 157 Outer Continental Shelf blocks.
PGS Wins 3D Contract Offshore South Atlantic Margin
2024-04-08 - PGS said a Ramform Titan-class vessel is scheduled to commence mobilization in June.
Tech Trends: AI Increasing Data Center Demand for Energy
2024-04-16 - In this month’s Tech Trends, new technologies equipped with artificial intelligence take the forefront, as they assist with safety and seismic fault detection. Also, independent contractor Stena Drilling begins upgrades for their Evolution drillship.
AI Poised to Break Out of its Oilfield Niche
2024-04-11 - At the AI in Oil & Gas Conference in Houston, experts talked up the benefits artificial intelligence can provide to the downstream, midstream and upstream sectors, while assuring the audience humans will still run the show.