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Austrian gas supply safe even if Russia shuts off taps, research study says

Austria's naturalgas supply is safe despite a heavy dependence on Russian imports because Vienna can draw on other sources and large reserves even if Moscow turns off the taps next month, according to a. governmentcommissioned study published on Friday.

Austria, which was occupied by four Allied powers consisting of. the Soviet Union after World War 2, has relied greatly on. Moscow for gas imports for years, only deciding that was a. tactical mistake after Russia's intrusion of Ukraine in 2022.

The land-locked country has had a hard time to discover options. while much of Europe has actually rushed to do the exact same. Partly. state-owned oil and gas firm OMV continues to purchase gas. sent by pipeline from Russia under a long-lasting agreement. In. April, the latest month on record, 81% of imports came from. Russia.

The study by the Austrian Energy Company, an association of. members including the energy and environment ministry, mentioned. numerous factors that would cushion the blow if Russian imports. dried up, such as financial investments in broadening import capabilities by. pipeline from Germany to the north and Italy to the south, the. reality annual usage has actually fallen and gas-storage centers. that are almost 82% full.

Austria can for that reason head into the coming winter with. self-confidence in terms of security of gas supply, it said.

Compared with the situation at the beginning of June 2022 -. when the storage centers were just over 30% full and Russia. reduced gas shipment - the scenario and outlook are now much. more favorable, the research study of possible scenarios over the next. 2 years said.

Just in a not likely extreme situation of 2 successive. years with restricted imports from Germany and Italy and greater. outflows into neighbouring nations like Slovakia and Hungary. would the country have to dip into its newly-created tactical. gas reserve, it added.

(source: Reuters)