Numerous Russian gas buyers agree to ruble payments
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It was emphasized that payments for gas are made in rubles because Russia wants to ensure a 100 percent payment guarantee.
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Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak
In an editorial for the Energy Policy magazine, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak revealed that numerous Russian gas buyers have agreed to convert payments into rubles, and the Russian government is awaiting a decision from other importers.
The Deputy Prime Minister detailed that conditions for buyers remain as comfortable as possible. "Several buyers have already agreed with the transfer of gas payments into rubles, we are waiting for decisions from other importers," he wrote.
Novak emphasized that payments for gas are made in rubles because Russia wants to ensure a 100 percent payment guarantee.
"I would like to emphasize that the transfer of payments for gas into the national currency on the Russian side is logical and caused by objective reasons - the desire to receive payment for the delivered goods with a 100% guarantee. Such confidence in Russia is given by the payment pattern we proposed, in contrast to the one that has been in force until recently," he explained.
He noted that the EU intends to compensate for Russian energy sources' rejection by diversifying gas supplies, hastening the shift to renewable forms of gas, substituting gas in heating systems with other types of fuel, and producing electricity from other sources.
Read more: Borrell: Russian ruble has shown strong resilience, new sanctions coming
Novak emphasized that "All these measures, according to the European Commission, will reduce the demand for Russian gas by two-thirds (67%) by the end of this year. They also plan to achieve energy independence by increasing the share of renewable energy sources. However, in March they noted the decline in wind generation."
Instead of Russia, he claims that American LNG companies are the major gas suppliers to Europe, with plans to capture a substantial portion of the European market.
"But there are a number of important nuances. The lack of the necessary infrastructure for receiving LNG will not allow increasing supplies quickly," Novak concluded.
