The Austrian energy group OMV is no longer dependent on Russian gas and will be able to supply its customers in the event of a cessation of gas transit through Ukraine.
This was stated by OMV CEO Alfred Stern in an interview with APA.
“We have been working for more than two years to diversify our gas sources and transport routes so that we no longer rely on deliveries from Gazprom. We can supply all our contractual customers even if Russian gas does not come through. OMV is no longer dependent on it,” he said.
Stern also assured that OMV has “significantly reduced” the volume of natural gas purchased from Gazprom compared to levels before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
He noted that OMV will insist on strict adherence to contract terms by Gazprom. According to the contract, the Russian company is required to supply gas to the Slovak-Austrian border, so if Ukraine does not extend the gas transit contract with Gazprom, the latter will not be able to fulfill the contract with OMV from the new year.
“The point of delivery is the Slovak-Austrian border,” Stern emphasized.
He added that communication between OMV and Gazprom is now mostly through lawyers, with several arbitration processes ongoing.
“Since the beginning of 2023, for more than a year and a half, we have had a special legal strategy aimed at protecting OMV's rights,” he said.
