Russian energy giant Gazprom has ceased exporting gas to neighboring Finland, the gas system operator Gasgrid Finland said on Saturday.
The move comes after Gazprom Export, which later confirmed the stoppage, demanded that European countries pay for Russian gas supplies in rubles because of sanctions imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland has refused to comply.
The halt in gas exports from Russia also comes amid tensions with Moscow produced by Finland’s application on Wednesday to join NATO.
On Saturday, the Finnish state-owned company Gasgrid Finland said in a statement that gas supplies through the Imatra entry point were stopped on 21 May.
“The amount of gas needed by the Finnish gas market is imported into the Finnish gas system through Balticconnector entry point in accordance with the nominations made by the market parties. Gasgrid Finland has directed gas imports in Balticconnector and the gas system is currently in balance,” it said.
“Gasgrid Finland actively monitors the operation of the gas market and maintains up-to-date information on the state of the gas market and the gas transmission system on UMM platform and its website, ” it added.
Earlier, the Finnish state-owned energy firm Gasum described the Russian move as “highly regrettable”.
“However, we have been carefully preparing for this situation and provided that there will be no disruptions in the gas transmission network, we will be able to supply all our customers with gas in the coming months,” Gasum CEO Mika Wiljanen said in a statement.
Although most of the gas used in Finland comes from Russia, gas makes up only some 5% of its annual energy consumption.
Moscow already cut off gas to Bulgaria and Poland last month after they refused to pay in rubles.
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