Russia reduces gas deliveries to Austria

Austrian energy regulator E-Control has confirmed that Russian gas deliveries have decreased 15 percent compared to last year.

The reason was believed to be related to counter-sanctions against the European Union (EU) regarding the Ukraine conflict with similar reports coming from other European countries, though Russian gas giant Gazprom denied this was the case, or that there would even be less gas delivered, Xinhua reported citing a Kronen Zeitung newspaper report published Friday.

E-Control said there were also technical possibilities for the lower amount of gas to be delivered, such as that gas storage in Russia was currently being filled leaving less currently available for transit.

Spokesperson for Austrian oil and gas company OMV Robert Lechner Friday also confirmed the 15 percent drop in delivery, though said the domestic gas storage level was currently at 90 percent, which depending on the weather could be enough to supply the country for up to one year.

Despite hinting possible political motives behind the drop, Lechner also said fluctuations in gas supply were normal for the current time of year, and that consumers should not be concerned.

Austrian Federal Minister of Economy Reinhold Mitterlehner also downplayed concerns over gas supply during an interview with the Oe1 Mittagsjournal radio programme later Friday.

He said that while seasonal fluctuations were a possible reason for the reduced supply, in light of the current circumstances he also did not believe it was a coincidence.