Russian energy company RAO Nordic cut off electricity supplies to neighboring Finland over the weekend, saying it had not received payment from Finland due to the sanctions.
RAO Nordic, a subsidiary of Russian energy company Inter RAO, suspended electricity exports on May 14, according to a statement by Finnish state-owned national transmission network operator Fingrid.
“In practice, the notification means that there has been no Russian electricity in Finland for some time,” Fingrid COO Reima Päivinen told state broadcaster Yle.
About ten percent of Finland’s electricity is imported from Russia, but Fingrid insists Finns’ electricity needs will be met even if electricity is not imported from Russia.
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“Now, of course, the consumption volume has decreased compared to the maximum consumption in spring-summer and winter. Finland would be nice if there was no electricity in Russia. The substitute electricity comes from local production or imports predominantly from Sweden and the Baltic States,” said Päivinen.
RAO Nordic said the shutdown was due to unpaid payments: “Due to problems in receiving payments for electricity sold on the market, direct or bilateral sale of electricity imported from Russia will be suspended until further notice.”
Others, including lobbyist Jukka Leskelä, CEO of the Energy Industries Association, asked about the timing of the cut and said this move could be attributed to Finland’s possible participation in the NATO alliance after it was last announced by Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Prime. Minister Sanna Marin. In weeks, they supported the country’s entry into NATO.
Earlier, he expressed dissatisfaction with the potential accession of Russia, Finland and Sweden to NATO.
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said: “In terms of enlargement, Russia has no problems with these states – no. Therefore, in this sense, there is no immediate threat for Russia from enlargement (NATO) to include these countries.”
Gas prices rose after Russia announced that it would not supply gas to Europe via the pipeline via Poland, citing new sanctions. https://t.co/wZ58I8HRjx
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However, expanding the military infrastructure in this region will definitely trigger our reaction,” said Putin. “What will this (answer) be? We will see what threats are created for us.”
RAO Nordic’s decision to cut its supply to Finland follows Russian energy giant Gazprom’s announcement that it will no longer send gas exported to Europe via the Yamal gas pipeline, which runs from Poland to Germany, Europe’s largest Russian gas importer. came. . .
“There is a ban on dealing and negotiating with people under sanction. For Gazprom in particular, this means banning the use of the gas pipeline owned by (Polish company) EuRoPol GAZ to transport Russian gas to Poland, ”said the statement.
Earlier this year, following sanctions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Putin announced that “non-enemy” countries would have to pay for energy in rubles rather than euros or dollars.
Later, Gazprom Bank announced a plan that would allow countries to make deposits in euros and dollars, and then converted the bank currency into rubles and transferred the ruble to a new account, which was then used.
Several companies, such as Italian energy giant Eni and others, are reportedly preparing to open ruble accounts last month to participate in an alleged scheme that allows companies to avoid violating the penalty.
Major energy companies in Italy, Germany and elsewhere in Europe are reportedly preparing to open Russian Ruble accounts to pay for Russian gas in a way that could evade sanctions. https://t.co/hG49aaYpQa
– Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) May 1, 2022
Source: Breitbart
