Russia Halts Gas Supplies to Austria Following Dispute with OMV

Following a contractual dispute with Gazprom, Austria, which relied on 90% of Russian gas this summer, faces a supply halt. Despite the crisis, the country claims to have secured its energy supply.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

Austria has been officially informed by Gazprom of the imminent halt in gas deliveries starting Saturday. This decision marks a significant shift in energy relations between the two nations, ending a partnership that began in 1968 with the signing of the first delivery contract between Austrian company OMV and the Soviet Union.

According to an OMV spokesperson, this announcement comes in the context of a dispute over an arbitration ruling issued on Wednesday. The ruling granted OMV the right to claim €230 million from Gazprom for past supply issues, particularly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the reduction of gas flows in 2022 via the Nord Stream pipeline.

A Historical Dependence on Russian Gas

During the summer of 2024, Austria still relied on Russia for 90% of its gas, primarily delivered via Ukraine. This sudden halt ends nearly six decades of energy dependence, forcing the country to rapidly diversify its supply sources.

OMV, 31.5% owned by the Austrian state, had anticipated the deterioration in relations with Gazprom Export. The company had already reduced its reliance on Russian gas, increasing imports via pipelines from Germany and Italy.

Measures to Ensure Supply Security

Despite the supply cutoff, Environment and Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler assured on the platform X that the country’s energy security remains intact. She emphasized that storage facilities are full and alternative supply capacities are available. These measures aim to prevent an energy crisis similar to that of winter 2022, which destabilized several European countries.

The volumes affected by this halt are significant. OMV specified that the potentially impacted supply amounts to approximately 7,400 megawatt-hours per hour, equivalent to 5 terawatt-hours per month. This volume underscores the strategic importance of Russian gas to Austria’s energy system.

An Energy Conflict Amplified by the Ukraine War

Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been repeatedly accused of using energy as a geopolitical leverage. The Austrian minister did not hesitate to label this decision as “another use of energy as a weapon.”

The cessation of deliveries also reflects a broader trend within the European Union. Several member states have drastically reduced their reliance on Russian gas, intensifying efforts to diversify sources, notably through liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports.

This interruption could mark a new phase in the reorganization of the European energy landscape. Austria, while ensuring its resilience, will likely need to intensify efforts for a sustainable and secure energy transition.

NextDecade confirmed a final investment decision for Train 5 at Rio Grande LNG, backed by full $6.7bn funding, marking its second decision in a month.
Sudan seeks partnership with Belarus to rehabilitate its energy grid amid prolonged humanitarian, economic and logistical crisis.
The Malaysian group launched three tenders to sell up to five liquefied natural gas cargoes in November and December, sourced from its Bintulu and PFLNG Dua facilities.
The South African government ends a thirteen-year freeze on shale gas, paving the way for renewed exploration in the Karoo Basin amid a national energy crisis.
Platts' physical pricing platform records its second-highest LNG trading volume, with nearly 1.5 million tonnes exchanged despite regional demand slowdown.
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder supported the Nord Stream 2 pipeline before an inquiry, dismissing criticism over his role and Russian funding linked to the project.
Daily winter demand spikes are pushing Britain’s gas system to rely more on liquefied natural gas and fast-cycle storage, as domestic production and Norwegian imports reach seasonal plateaus with no room for short-term increases.
Rising terminal capacity and sustained global demand, notably from China and Europe, are driving U.S. ethane exports despite new regulatory uncertainties.
The United States has called on Japan to stop importing Russian gas, amid rising tensions over conflicting economic interests between allies in response to the indirect financing of the war in Ukraine.
Australian group Santos lowers its annual production forecast after an unplanned shutdown at the Barossa project and delayed recovery in the Cooper Basin.
VoltaGrid partners with Oracle to deploy modular gas-powered infrastructure designed to stabilise energy use in artificial intelligence data centres while creating hundreds of jobs in Texas.
GTT, Bloom Energy and Ponant Explorations Group launch a joint project to integrate LNG-powered fuel cells and a CO₂ capture system on a cruise ship scheduled for 2030.
Storengy has launched its 2025/2026 campaign to sell gas storage capacity over four years, targeting the commercialisation of nearly 100 TWh by 2030, with over 27 TWh available starting in 2026-27.
The US government has withdrawn its proposal to suspend liquefied natural gas export licences for failure to comply with maritime requirements, while maintaining a phased implementation schedule.
Soaring electricity demand in Batam, driven by new data centres, leads INNIO and MPower Daya Energia to secure 80 MW and launch a five-year maintenance programme.
Tamboran has completed a three-well drilling campaign in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, with 12,000 metres of horizontal sections prepared for stimulation and maintenance ahead of the commercial phase.
Valeura Energy partners with Transatlantic Petroleum to restart gas exploration in the Thrace basin, with testing and drilling planned this quarter in deep formations.
Calpine Corporation has finalised a public funding agreement to accelerate the construction of a peaking power plant in Freestone County, strengthening Texas’s grid response capacity during peak demand periods.
Naftogaz urges the European Union to use Ukraine’s gas storage capacity as part of a strategic reserve system, while calling for the end of storage filling obligations after 2027.
Spanish gas infrastructure operator Enagás is in advanced talks to acquire the 32% stake held by Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC in Terega, valued at around €600mn ($633mn), according to sources familiar with the matter.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.