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Italy has become the latest European country to report cuts in Russian gas supplies.
Italian energy giant Eni has said it will receive today (Friday) only half of the 63 million cubic meters of gas per day it requires from Gazprom and the cuts will continue for at least two days.
Germany accuses Gazprom of trying to raise the price of gas by reducing supplies.
Gazprom says the shortcomings come from repairs to be made to the Nord Stream pipeline.
Russia supplies the European Union with 40% of its natural gas needs. It also brings in 27% of the oil imported into the EU, and the bloc pays it for services about 400 billion euros a year, according to the BBC.
The EU has pledged to reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuels in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and has banned most of its exports since this year.
Member countries have been urged to stockpile gas during the hot summer months, ahead of rising demand in the winter, but recent cuts in supplies from Russia have raised concerns about the creation of such reserves on the continent.
Italy says it could declare a “gas emergency” next week if Russia continues to cut supplies, government sources told Reuters.
Such a move could justify a reduction and rationing of consumption for industrial users, an increase in production from coal-fired power plants or a demand for imports from other suppliers.
In addition to Italy, Slovakia reported today that it has received only half of the supply required by the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which runs through the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany.
France has said it is no longer receiving gas from Russia after finding other sources of supply.
Germany has accused Gazprom of cutting supplies, as have Austria, Poland, Bulgaria, Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Nord Stream 1 had announced maintenance work from July 11 to 21 that will stop supplies. / BBC /
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