Russia reduces gas supplies, as EU imposes sanctions

BRUSSELS - Poland and Slovakia have said gas supplies from Russia are down, as the EU prepares to impose new sanctions.

A Polish diplomat told EUobserver on Thursday (11 September) that volumes fell by 20 percent on Monday and were down by 45 percent by Thursday.

The same day Slovak PM Robert Fico i said supplies to his country had dipped by eight to 11 percent.

Both countries are trying to find out what is going on amid denials by Russian supplier Gazprom that its shipments are any lower than normal.

The Polish diplomat said the enquiries are being made by Polish gas distribution firms. But Fico told press he has tasked officials to contact Moscow.

Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary are involved in shipping “reverse-flow” gas to Ukraine after Russia cut off Ukraine gas in a price dispute.

But a Hungarian diplomat told this website its Russia gas deliveries are normal for now.

“We did not see a drop in supplies. But we are filling up our storage tanks so that we are prepared for any scenario that may come”, the source noted.

The Polish diplomat added: “On the Polish side, there is no risk to national consumers at this stage. We have generous reserves. But the supply reductions could be a burden on reverse-flow and I have heard talk that this is being scaled down”.

Gazprom's reductions come the same week the EU adopted a new round of economic sanctions against Russia following its invasion of east Ukraine.

Some EU states had wanted to wait and see if a ceasefire deal with Russia holds before implementing the new measures.

But EU Council chief Herman Van Rompuy i announced on Thursday that they will enter into life the following morning.

The measures are to restrict EU capital for five Russian banks, three defence firms, and three energy firms. They will also extend an export ban on dual-use goods and oil-drilling technology and blacklist 24 names.

The Van Rompuy announcement saw the ruble fall to a historic low against the dollar.

Russia reacted to an earlier round of economic measures with a ban on EU food exports.

It has threatened to block EU airlines from flying over Siberia to Asia if the EU goes further. On Thursday, it also threatened to curb import of used cars, light industry materials, and some textiles.