Russian gas exports to Austria have exceed the record-levels supplied in 2018, with year-to-date deliveries reaching 12.7 billion cubic meters (Bcm), Kallanish Energy reports.
The provisional data disclosed by Gazprom covers exports from Jan. 1 to Nov. 21, with volumes already 2.8% higher than the entire volume shipped last year. The previous 12.3 Bcm record in 2018, was an increase of 34.8% over 2017’s exports – a trend over the past five years.
Gazprom and Austria’s OMV have agreed to extend their existing gas supply contract until 2040, and earlier this year signed a memorandum of understanding eyeing potential cooperation in liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The firms are also partners in different projects, including the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. The companies’ CEOs discussed the project’s progress last week in St. Petersburg, but Gazprom didn’t provide details from the talks.
Nord Stream 2 was expected to start gas flows to Europe by year-end, but due to a number of permitting issues, its commissioning has been delayed. Linking pipelines onshore Germany are ready to receive the gas beginning in January.