MOSCOW, July 1 Austrian Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler, who earlier said that the option of obtaining gas from Russia is «unreliable», is «obsessed on a green deal» and has no idea how to refuse gas from the Russian Federation, Austria has no alternatives to Russian gas, said Roman Haider, deputy from the Austrian Freedom Party (APS, German FPÖ).
“The Minister is fanatically obsessed with green deals. She has no idea how to turn off Russian gas, so she invited gas suppliers to tell her how to do it. After the meeting, she knew no more than before. The truth is that Austria has no alternative Russian gas,» Haider said.
The deputy stressed that part of the gas to Austria also comes from Germany and Italy, however, according to Haider, Vienna «does not want to know where these countries get this gas from.»
«Thus, we are inclined to believe that much more than the declared 64% comes from Russia,» summed up the deputy.
On Monday, Gewessler said that Austria still receives most of its gas supplies from Russia. The minister noted that obtaining gas from Russia is an «unreliable» option and efforts must be made to abandon Russian energy resources. According to her, gas storage facilities in Austria are 80% full, and energy prices have generally fallen.
The European Union did not impose sanctions against Russian gas supplies, but most of its member countries, after the start of a special operation in Ukraine, set a goal to reduce purchases of «blue fuel» in Russia.
Gazprom has repeatedly stated that the company fulfills all obligations to European consumers. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto spoke about the fact that the company is a reliable gas supplier. He noted that Hungary is better prepared for winter than other European countries, thanks to the continued supply of gas from Russia.