### Gazprom Halts Gas Supplies to Austria Amid Payment Dispute

VIENNA — Austria experienced a sudden halt in its gas supplies from Russia's state-owned Gazprom early Saturday morning, according to the Vienna-based utility OMV. The cessation followed OMV's announcement that it would cease payments to Gazprom due to a significant arbitration award.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, in a swiftly convened press conference on Friday, reassured the public of the country’s preparedness for the upcoming winter, emphasizing access to alternative fuel sources. This official supply cutoff took effect from 6 a.m. on Saturday.

OMV stated it would halt payments to Gazprom’s Austrian division as part of a compensation strategy for a €230 million ($242 million) arbitration settlement awarded by the International Chamber of Commerce over prior gas supply issues involving its German subsidiary.

Despite this disruption, OMV had already assured its customers on Wednesday that their gas needs would be met, noting that gas storage facilities in Austria were over 90% full.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of using energy as a weapon, describing the move as an attempt to blackmail Austria and Europe. She emphasized that Europe is prepared for such actions and ready for the winter.

Russia had previously cut off most of its natural gas supplies to Europe in 2022, citing disagreements over payment methods. This led European governments to seek alternative sources at significantly higher costs, sourcing much of their supply from the U.S. and Qatar. Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler noted Austria’s heavy reliance on Russian gas, which accounted for 98% of its supply as recently as December of the previous year.