Russia is ready to resume gas supplies to Europe via Yamal Europe Pipeline

(Reuters) – Moscow is ready for gas supplies to Europe via the Yamal-Europe Pipeline. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said to state TASS news agency.

“The European market remains relevant, as the gas shortage persists, and we have every opportunity to resume supplies,” TASS quoted Novak in comments published by the agency Sunday.

“For example, the Yamal-Europe Pipeline, which was stopped for political reasons, remains unused.”

Yamal-Europe Pipeline flows normally westward but has been mostly reversed in December 2021, when Poland stopped buying gas from Russia and instead opted to draw on its stored gas in Germany.

After having rejected Moscow’s request that it pay in roubles, Warsaw ended its agreement with Russia in May.

Gazprom, Russia’s supplier, responded by cutting off supplies and also saying it will no longer be allowed to export gas via Poland following Moscow’s imposition of sanctions against the company that owns the Yamal-Europe section.

Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia gestures at the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries headquarters in Vienna (Austria) October 5, 2022. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner REFILE-CORRECTING DESIGNATION

Novak reiterated that Moscow is looking into additional gas supplies to Turkey following the creation of a hub.

He stated that Moscow anticipates shipping 21 billion cubic meters (bcm), of liquefied natural gases (LNG) to Europe by 2022.

“This year we were able to significantly increase LNG supplies to Europe,” Novak stated. “In the 11 months of 2022 they increased to 19.4 bcm, by the end of the year 21 bcm are expected.”

Novak stated that Russia and Azerbaijan have agreed to increase its gas supplies for domestic consumption in a broad interview with TASS, which was published parts of this weekend.

“In the near future, when they increase their gas production, we’ll be able to