Report: Austria to issue amendment to seize Gazprom’s gas storage

VIENNA, Jul 1 (PRIME) -- Austria is to release an amendment to the law later on Friday that will allow the local authorities to seize Gazprom’s gas storage in Haidach, Kurier newspaper reported.

The amendment envisages that the storage will be captured not at once, but at a second stage. The revised law will require gas storage users “to propose a booked facility that it does not use systemically fully or partially” to third parties or return it to the storage company, which is Russian gas giant Gazprom’s subsidiary GSA for Gazprom Export.

In case GSA does not acquire the storage from Gazprom Export, it will also lose its rights as a storage company.

According to Kurier’s information, booked facilities that are used by less than 10% as of Friday will be seen as systemically unoccupied.

Gazprom’s storage in Haidach has been filled by 0% since March 29, according to the base of Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) association.

In May, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that Gazprom would lose its gas storage in Austria if it does not use the facility.

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