Gas: Waiting for Putin’s parliament

Of Thanks to Floudopoulos

A waiting position in order to clarify the intentions of the Russian side specifically towards Greece and DEPA but also calm as our country has considered all alternative scenarios and is ready to face even the most extreme developments around the issue of gas, they compose the scenario of the day after the signing of the Putin decree on the payment of Russian energy exports in rubles.

The position of the Greek side is that the decree can not concern the long-term gas supply contracts, except for the monthly purchases or the daily supplies from the spot market of Russian natural gas.

Therefore, Russia’s claim cannot also apply to scheduled gas deliveries under the bilateral Gazprom DEPA agreement.

In addition, as has been clarified by DEPA sources, it has not yet reached P. Heraklion where the company’s offices are located, a request from Gazprom for repayment of the Russian company in rubles.

But even if it does, the request is tantamount to amending the bilateral agreement between DEPA Gazprom, which explicitly states that payments to the Russian side are made in euros. Therefore any modification of the contract can be done only with the agreement of the two parties and after relevant negotiation.

In any case, the Greek side is ready for all possibilities, even for the complete cessation of the flow of Russian gas.

In such a development, which according to the estimates of the competent bodies is not the prevailing scenario, in order to ensure the smooth energy supply of the country, there is an ready alternative plan which envisages, among other things, that the increase of lignite use will be mobilized. gas units that can operate with alternative fuel, to use oil (5 units of PPC, Elpedison and IRON), while DEPA will seek additional loads of liquefied natural gas LNG in order to increase the planned landings of fuel at the Revyth station . It is noted that 3 landings are currently scheduled for April.

Some information, finally, want Russia to have indirectly folded from its demand for payment in rubles as according to interpretative statements and explanations, those who supply gas from Russia will pay the price in euros or dollars to Russian banks abroad, the which will then convert the currency into rubles.