Russia's Gazprom declares force majeure on some gas supplies to Europe
The letter said Gazprom, which has a monopoly on Russian gas exports by pipeline, could not fulfil its supply obligations owing to "extraordinary" circumstances outside its control
Russia's Gazprom has declared force majeure on gas supplies to Europe to at least one major customer, according to the letter dated 14 July and seen by Reuters on Monday.
The letter said Gazprom, which has a monopoly on Russian gas exports by pipeline, could not fulfil its supply obligations owing to "extraordinary" circumstances outside its control.
A trading source said the letter concerned supplies through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, a major supply route to Germany and beyond.
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Gazprom had no immediate comment.
Invoking force majeure, used when a business is hit by something beyond its control, will likely escalate tensions between Russia and the West over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, action Moscow calls a "special military operation".
The European Union, which has imposed sanctions on Moscow, aims to stop using Russian fossil fuels by 2027 but wants to supplies to continue for now as it shifts away from Russian supplies.
Russian gas supplies have dropped via major routes, including via Ukraine and Belarus and through Nord Stream 1 under the Baltic Sea.
Nord Stream 1 is currently undergoing maintenance.
