Greece Energy Ministry to discuss payment methods with Russian gas importers: Reports

Amidst heated debate over payments for Russian gas across countries. Ministry of Environment and Energy in Greece announced that it will hold a meeting with gas importers to discuss new procedure of paying energy firm Gazprom for import of gas. A source in gas industry told RIA Novosti that Greek Environment and Energy Minister, with support of RAE (independent energy regulator), will hold meeting with Russian importers. According to source, y will speak on "clarifications" related to final recommendations issued by European Commission on gas payment. 

Energy Ministry meeting in Greece to decide on payments for Russian gas

source furr noted that European Commission, in its latest recommendations on payment in rubles, stated that y do not consider it a violation of sanctions and firms can pay, RIA Novosti reported. importers at Energy Ministry meeting will be informed about final decision on paying for Russian gas, wher it is to be paid in rubles or any or currency. source furr stressed that re has been a delay in decision as European Commission h me recommendations that were opposite to latest visory that y have issued. According to agency's interlocutor, y could be permitted to open accounts in rubles or "some very difficult decision" for Greece, as per news report. development comes after it was announced that Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will hold a meeting with Ministry of Environment and Energy to discuss effect of Russia's decision to stop gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland. It is pertinent to mention here that Russian President Vlimir Putin recently announced that "unfriendly countries" need to pay in rubles for importing Kremlin's gas.

Gazprom halts gas supplies to Bulgaria & Poland 

Russian energy giant Gazprom has cut off gas supplies to Bulgaria’s Bulgargaz and Poland’s PGNiG as y have not me payments in Russian rubles. Taking to ir official Twitter handle, Russian state-owned energy corporation has announced halting gas supplies to Bulgargaz and PGNiG. energy firm in statement said that gas supplies will not be restored until payments have not been me in Russian rubles, BBC News reported European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen has called for suspension of gas to Poland and Bulgaria by Gazprom "an attempt by Russia to blackmail us." Ursula von der Leyen stressed that decision shows Moscow's "unreliability" as a supplier. She called decision of Gazprom "unjustified and unacceptable" and asserted that y are rey for this scenario. EU Commission President stated that y are in contact with ir member states. 

Image: AP