Greece’s DEPA Finalizes Payment to Gazprom for April Gas Supplies – Report by Reuters

ATHENS (Reuters) – DEPA Commercial, Greece’s largest gas importer, has made a payment in euros to Russian gas producer Gazprom for its April supplies, according to a report from the semi-state Athens News Agency on Monday.

DEPA Commercial, which is state-controlled, has an existing gas supply contract with Gazprom that is set to expire in 2026.

The report indicates that this transaction was completed in accordance with guidelines issued by the European Commission on May 19 and did not violate sanctions imposed on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine or EU regulations, as per unnamed sources.

The issue of Russia’s demand for foreign buyers to pay for gas in roubles has posed challenges for European governments as they try to maintain a tough stance against Moscow in response to the war in Ukraine.

Countries like Poland, Bulgaria, and Finland have refused to meet Moscow’s requirement to pay through rouble accounts with Gazprombank, leading to a suspension of their gas supplies.