About 40 deputies of the European Parliament (EP) called for an investigation into the actions of Gazprom, which could lead to an increase in gas prices in Europe, reports TASS, citing a source. The deputies sent the corresponding letter to the European Commission.
“A group of 40 MEPs from Poland and the Baltic states have applied to the European Commission with an official request to conduct an antitrust investigation against Gazprom for actions that could lead to an increase in gas prices in Europe,” the agency’s source said.
Gas prices in Europe were growing amid calm weather, which led to a serious drop in wind generation, the approaching heating season and uncertainty with the launch of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. In addition, on September 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that fuel is becoming more expensive because of the policy of the European Commission with an emphasis on exchange mechanisms in determining gas prices.
As of 3:40 am Moscow time, the cost of the October gas futures contract on the Dutch gas hub TTF, according to the London ICE exchange, was $ 768.2 per thousand cubic meters. On September 16, the maximum at the exchange trading was $ 853.5 per thousand cubic meters.
On September 15, Gazprom announced that gas reserves in European underground storage facilities (UGS) are at their lowest level for many years. As of September 13, the lag in terms of fullness compared to last year is 22.8 billion cubic meters. m of gas. At the same time, on July 31 of this year, the lag from the level of reserves as of the same date in 2020 was 27.9 billion cubic meters. m, and as of August 14, only 31.9 billion cubic meters were replenished in European UGS facilities. m of gas from 66 billion cubic meters taken last season. m.
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