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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Dispute hits Europe gas supplies | Dispute hits Europe gas supplies |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Exports of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine appear to have completely stopped amid a dispute over gas supplies between the two countries. | Exports of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine appear to have completely stopped amid a dispute over gas supplies between the two countries. |
| The two sides have blamed each other for halting gas flows. | The two sides have blamed each other for halting gas flows. |
| Ukraine's Naftogaz said Russia's Gazprom halted supplies at 0744 local time (0544 GMT). Gazprom said Ukraine had closed the last remaining pipeline. | Ukraine's Naftogaz said Russia's Gazprom halted supplies at 0744 local time (0544 GMT). Gazprom said Ukraine had closed the last remaining pipeline. |
| The EU depends on Russia for about a quarter of its total gas supplies, some 80% of which is pumped through Ukraine. | The EU depends on Russia for about a quarter of its total gas supplies, some 80% of which is pumped through Ukraine. |
| The list of countries that have reported a total halt of Russian supplies via Ukraine includes Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Serbia, and Austria. | The list of countries that have reported a total halt of Russian supplies via Ukraine includes Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Serbia, and Austria. |
| Italy said it had received only 10% of its expected supply. | Italy said it had received only 10% of its expected supply. |
| See map of affected area | See map of affected area |
| The row comes amid a cold snap across Europe that is likely to push up demand for gas. | The row comes amid a cold snap across Europe that is likely to push up demand for gas. |
| Bulgaria says it has sufficient supplies for just a few more days. | |
| Vladimir Putin makes his position clear | |
| Many other countries are now tapping strategic reserves, built up to cope with just such a development, says the BBC's central Europe correspondent Nick Thorpe. | |
| Power stations have been told to switch to fuel oil where possible, while big industrial users have been told to prepare to limit or halt use. | Power stations have been told to switch to fuel oil where possible, while big industrial users have been told to prepare to limit or halt use. |
| Some 12,000 households in the eastern Bulgarian city of Varna had been left without central heating, authorities said. Nearby Dobrich was also affected. | Some 12,000 households in the eastern Bulgarian city of Varna had been left without central heating, authorities said. Nearby Dobrich was also affected. |
| In many former Soviet bloc countries whole towns and areas rely on a single centralised heating system, so that when that shuts down, every household is affected. | In many former Soviet bloc countries whole towns and areas rely on a single centralised heating system, so that when that shuts down, every household is affected. |
| Hungary's gas transmission company said it had limited the natural gas consumption for industrial users on Wednesday, while Budapest airport was switching from gas to oil heating, Reuters news agency reported. | Hungary's gas transmission company said it had limited the natural gas consumption for industrial users on Wednesday, while Budapest airport was switching from gas to oil heating, Reuters news agency reported. |
| Hungary expects to use 64m cubic metres of gas on Wednesday, down from 68m cubic metres, the company said. | Hungary expects to use 64m cubic metres of gas on Wednesday, down from 68m cubic metres, the company said. |
| Venting anger | Venting anger |
| Russia and Ukraine have been blaming each other for the disruption to Europe's energy supplies. EU GAS IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA 100% dependent on Russia: Latvia, Slovakia, Finland, Estonia More than 80% dependent: Bulgaria, Lithuania, Czech Republic More than 60% dependent: Greece, Austria, Hungary Source: European Council on Foreign Relations, 2006 figures Gas cut: How Europe is copingPressure rising as gas supplies fallEurope's need for Russian gas | Russia and Ukraine have been blaming each other for the disruption to Europe's energy supplies. EU GAS IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA 100% dependent on Russia: Latvia, Slovakia, Finland, Estonia More than 80% dependent: Bulgaria, Lithuania, Czech Republic More than 60% dependent: Greece, Austria, Hungary Source: European Council on Foreign Relations, 2006 figures Gas cut: How Europe is copingPressure rising as gas supplies fallEurope's need for Russian gas |
| Gazprom has accused Ukraine of shutting off the final pipeline carrying gas to Europe, but the Ukrainian gas company has said that would be impossible, since the taps are in Russia. | Gazprom has accused Ukraine of shutting off the final pipeline carrying gas to Europe, but the Ukrainian gas company has said that would be impossible, since the taps are in Russia. |
| Correspondents say the differing versions offered by the two countries show how far apart they are, and that the row is rapidly becoming a means for venting anger caused by poor political relations. | Correspondents say the differing versions offered by the two countries show how far apart they are, and that the row is rapidly becoming a means for venting anger caused by poor political relations. |
| European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso accused the two countries of taking the EU's gas supply "hostage" and urged them to resume supplies immediately. | |
| He said the EU was ready to send monitors to the Russian-Ukrainian border, and at Ukrainian exit points, to determine where the shortfalls originated. | |
| Russia has called for such monitors and Ukraine's prime minister said they could start work "immediately", according to the AFP news agency. | |
| Talks between Naftogaz and Gazprom aimed at resolving the crisis are due to resume in Moscow on Thursday - after the Christmas public holiday on Wednesday in Russia and Ukraine. | Talks between Naftogaz and Gazprom aimed at resolving the crisis are due to resume in Moscow on Thursday - after the Christmas public holiday on Wednesday in Russia and Ukraine. |
| Gazprom will also discuss the matter with the EU on the same day. | Gazprom will also discuss the matter with the EU on the same day. |
| 'Theft increasing' | 'Theft increasing' |
| Russia stopped supplying gas to Ukraine on New Year's Day in a row about unpaid bills and the failure to agree a new pricing contract. | Russia stopped supplying gas to Ukraine on New Year's Day in a row about unpaid bills and the failure to agree a new pricing contract. |
| On Monday, Gazprom decided to cut exports through Ukrainian pipelines by a fifth to compensate for the amount it said Ukraine was siphoning off supplies intended for Europe for its own use. | On Monday, Gazprom decided to cut exports through Ukrainian pipelines by a fifth to compensate for the amount it said Ukraine was siphoning off supplies intended for Europe for its own use. |
| Gazprom has said Ukraine was stealing 15% of gas delivered across its borders and that theft was "increasing by the hour". | Gazprom has said Ukraine was stealing 15% of gas delivered across its borders and that theft was "increasing by the hour". |
| On Wednesday Gazprom deputy chief executive Alexander Medvedev said there was no "physical possibility" of Russia bringing gas to European customers because of the shutdown of pipes going though Ukraine. | On Wednesday Gazprom deputy chief executive Alexander Medvedev said there was no "physical possibility" of Russia bringing gas to European customers because of the shutdown of pipes going though Ukraine. |
| He also warned that in cold weather gas needed to flow through the pipes to keep them operational, and that failing this, "the system could not be restarted very quickly". | He also warned that in cold weather gas needed to flow through the pipes to keep them operational, and that failing this, "the system could not be restarted very quickly". |
| Ukraine has denied stealing gas, saying technical problems are disrupting the onward flow of gas to Europe. | Ukraine has denied stealing gas, saying technical problems are disrupting the onward flow of gas to Europe. |
| Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said in a letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso that his country had not used "a single cubic metre of Russian gas" to meet its own needs. | Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said in a letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso that his country had not used "a single cubic metre of Russian gas" to meet its own needs. |
| The new EU member states in central and eastern Europe are heavily - and in some cases entirely - dependent on Russian gas imports. | The new EU member states in central and eastern Europe are heavily - and in some cases entirely - dependent on Russian gas imports. |
| However, Germany and Italy together account for nearly half of the Russian gas consumed in the EU. | However, Germany and Italy together account for nearly half of the Russian gas consumed in the EU. |
| Gazprom has promised to pump extra supplies through other pipelines - the Yamal from Arctic Russia through Belarus to Germany, and the Blue Stream to Turkey under the Black Sea. | Gazprom has promised to pump extra supplies through other pipelines - the Yamal from Arctic Russia through Belarus to Germany, and the Blue Stream to Turkey under the Black Sea. |
| A similar row between Gazprom and Ukraine at the beginning of 2006 led to gas shortages in several EU countries. | A similar row between Gazprom and Ukraine at the beginning of 2006 led to gas shortages in several EU countries. |
| Back to top | Back to top |
| Have you been affected? Are you worried by the crisis? | Have you been affected? Are you worried by the crisis? |
| Send your comments using the post form below. | Send your comments using the post form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |