LONDON -Russia will seek payment in roubles for gas sold to "unfriendly" countries, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday, and European gas prices soared on concerns the move would exacerbate the region's energy crunch.
Some European wholesale gas prices up to 30% higher on Wednesday. British and Dutch wholesale gas prices jumped. [NG/EU] German Economy Minister Robert Habeck called Putin's demand a breach of contract and other buyers of Russian gas echoed the point. Several firms, including oil and gas majors Eni, Shell and BP, RWE and Uniper - Germany's biggest importer of Russian gas - declined to comment.
"The measures taken by Russia may also be interpreted as provocative and may increase the possibility that Western nations tighten sanctions on Russian energy," said Liam Peach, emerging Europe economist at Capital Economics.
Source: Energy Industry News (energyindustrynews.net)
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