After Poland, gas imports to Bulgaria are suspended.
Poland and Bulgaria say Russian energy company Gazprom has informed them it will cut off natural gas supplies starting April 27th.
Polish energy company PGNiG and the Bulgarian Ministry of Energy have announced that state-owned supplier Bulgargaz has received an import notice. The Bulgarian ministry added that together with state-owned gas companies it has taken steps to find alternative agreements for the supply of natural gas.
The suspensions are the first since Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month that “unfriendly” foreign buyers would have to pay Gazprom in rubles, instead of dollars and euros.
Putin said this after Western countries imposed sanctions against Russia for its occupation of Ukraine.
Poland has refused to pay in rubles, agreeing with other EU countries that under the terms of the purchase agreement they can continue to pay in euros or dollars.
Polish officials said the country is ready to face any interruption of gas supply through the Yamal pipeline.
Gazprom did not confirm the shutdown, but a senior company official was quoted by saying, “Poland has to pay for gas supplies under the new payment procedure.”