Russian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Novak said on Sunday that Russia is ready to resume gas supplies to Europe via the Yamal-Europe pipeline, Reuters reports.

Gas pipelines on the Yamal PeninsulaPhoto: Oleksandr NEMENOV / AFP / Profimedia

“The European market remains relevant, as the gas shortage persists, and we have every opportunity to restore supplies. For example, the Yamal-Europe pipeline, which was stopped for political reasons, remains unused,” Oleksandr Novak told the TASS news agency, Agerpres reports.

The Yamal-Europe gas pipeline has not been operational since December 2021, as Poland refused to purchase gas from Russia in favor of using gas stored in Germany. In May, Warsaw terminated the agreement with Russia, having previously rejected Moscow’s request to pay in rubles. Gazprom responded by halting supplies and saying it would no longer be able to export gas through Poland after Moscow imposed sanctions on the company that owns the Polish section of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline.

Novak also reminded that Moscow is discussing additional gas supplies through Turkey after the creation of a hub in that country. He also said that according to Moscow’s estimates, in 2022 it supplied Europe with 21 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

“This year, we managed to significantly increase LNG supplies to Europe,” said the Russian vice-premier. “In 11 months of 2022, they increased to 19.4 billion cubic meters, and by the end of the year, 21 billion cubic meters are expected.”