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Poland and Bulgaria are receiving gas from EU neighbors, European Commission president says
Poland and Bulgaria are receiving fuel from their EU neighbors, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen stated Wednesday.
This comes after Russian vitality large Gazprom halted fuel provides to Poland and Bulgaria on Wednesday, after each international locations refused to pay the Russian vitality large in rubles, the corporate stated in a press release.
In a press release, von der Leyen referred to as it “one other provocation from the Kremlin” and accused Moscow of utilizing fuel to “blackmail” the bloc.
“That is one thing the European Fee has been making ready for, in shut coordination and solidarity with Member States and worldwide companions. Our response shall be instant, united and coordinated,” she stated in a press release. “First, we’ll be sure that Gazprom’s resolution has the least doable impression on European shoppers. At the moment, Member States met within the Gasoline Coordination Group. Poland and Bulgaria up to date us on the scenario. Each Poland and Bulgaria at the moment are receiving fuel from their EU neighbours.”
The official additionally burdened the necessity for dependable vitality companions, promising the tip of the period of Russian fossil fuels in Europe.
Additional in her assertion, she dedicated to making sure a plan for the “medium time period” for ample fuel provide and storage, and likewise regarded ahead to investing in a “inexperienced transition.”
“In the long run, REPowerEU can even assist us transfer to a extra dependable, safe and sustainable vitality provide. We’ll current our plans to hurry up the inexperienced transition in mid-Might. Each euro we put money into renewables and vitality effectivity is a down cost on our future vitality independence,” she stated.
Bulgaria is “in fixed communication” with the European Fee as “joint provides on the EU stage are being mentioned,” Bulgaria’s Power Ministry stated in a press release Wednesday.
Talking at a briefing within the capital Sofia, Bulgaria’s Power Minister Alexander Nikolov stated “the consumption of pure fuel in Bulgaria is assured for a minimum of a month forward and in the mean time there isn’t a have to restrict consumption.”
Nikolov stated a warning from Russia’s Gazprom was obtained on Tuesday that stated provides can be interrupted. He stated below the present contract, Bulgaria’s fuel operator Bulgargaz has fulfilled all of its obligations and that Gazprom shouldn’t be fulfilling the contractual commitments on the a part of the provider.
“It’s apparent that within the present scenario of struggle in Ukraine, pure fuel is utilized by Russia as a political and financial weapon,” stated Nikolov, including that Bulgaria will not maintain talks below strain.
Bulgaria’s pure fuel working firms have ensured the continuity of “different provides,” the ministry stated.
“Our nation is a loyal accomplice in current contracts and we won’t jeopardize provides to our neighbors,” Nikolov stated.
CNN’s Radina Gigova contributed reporting to this put up.