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Denmark’s largest energy company said Russia cut off gas supplies on Wednesday because the company refused to pay in rubles. This is the latest escalation in Europe’s energy sector as the war in Ukraine continues.
Russia had previously cut off natural gas supplies to Finland, Poland and Bulgaria after refusing to pay in rubles. Also on Tuesday, Moscow cut off supplies to the Netherlands.
Denmark’s energy company Ørsted said it expects to still be able to disperse its customers. “We stand behind the decision to refuse to pay in rubles and we are prepared for this scenario,” said Ørsted chief Mads Nipper. “This situation supports the need for the EU to become independent of Russian gas by increasing renewable energy sources,” Nipper added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, after imposing sanctions from the West, said that “buyers from unfriendly countries” should open two bank accounts in the state-owned bank Gazprombank, and in one of them pay in dollars or euros and then in the other account they are converted into rubles.
According to Danish authorities, almost 25 percent of the gas comes from Russia. Denmark’s Energy Agency said the supply disruption would have no immediate consequences.
“We will continue to have gas in Denmark and consumers will continue to be supplied,” said Kristoffer Böttzauw, director of the Danish Energy Agency.
“But we have plans if the situation worsens,” he added. As there is no gas pipeline bringing gas directly from Russia to Denmark, Russia cannot directly cut off gas supplies to Denmark, Ørsted said. “This decision by Russia means that Denmark can buy gas in the European gas market,” the company added. In Denmark, close to 380,000 households use natural gas for heating./REL
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