The Slovak state-owned gas import company (SPP) has announced that it has paid in euros for Russian gas and has opened an account with Gazprombank, according to its president and CEO Richard Prokipczak.
The European Commission explained in a directive this week how EU member states can continue to buy Russian gas without violating the sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
“We paid our debt to Gazprom in euros,” Prokipczak said in an interview with Slovak state television RTVS, explaining that the payment was made on May 17th.
“It was done in euros because the bill itself was issued in euros by Gazprom. Then the money was sent to Gazprom’s account and I have received confirmation that they have been received,” he said.
“Now the exchange rate is being converted, which will be completed with the payment of rubles to Gazprom, after which the supply of gas will continue,” he continued.
“Currency conversion is beyond the control of the SPP,” Prokipczak said
Although the Commission advised EU companies not to open an account with Gazprombank in rubles, as requested by the Kremlin, it has not made it clear that doing so would violate sanctions imposed on Russia.
Russia has demanded that it be paid in rubles for gas exports, warning that otherwise there is a risk that countries will lose their supplies. Already last month it stopped supplying gas to Poland and Bulgaria because the two countries refused to comply with its demand for payment in rubles.
Source: Capital
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