The Russian energy company Gazprom announced that natural gas exports in the first five months of this year decreased by 27.6% compared to the same period in 2021.
The total volume of natural gas production by Gazprom in the first five months of this year reached 211.4 billion cubic meters, which is 4.8% less than last year.
The Russian company said in a statement that exports to countries outside the Commonwealth of Independent States “amounted to 61 billion cubic meters in the period from January to May 2022, which is 23.2 billion cubic meters less than in the same period in 2021.”
61 billion cubic meters of gas were delivered to the CIS countries during the specified period.
Meanwhile, Gazprom said natural gas exports to China had “growth” but did not disclose the total cost.
This happened against the backdrop of Moscow’s decision to cut off gas supplies to countries that refuse to pay in Russian rubles.
Russia has cut natural gas supplies to Denmark, Finland, Poland, Bulgaria and the Netherlands for refusing to demand payment in rubles in protest against the military operation launched by Moscow since February 24 against Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said after imposing Western sanctions on his country that “unfriendly foreign buyers,” referring to countries that have imposed sanctions on Moscow, should pay for Russian gas supplies in their local currency, “roubles.”
Source: El Iktisad
