Russia plays on Europe’s gas-cut fears

Gazprom reduces gas supply to Europe amid freezing temperatures

Gazprom is using freezing temperatures to drive home the importance of Russian gas supply to Europe, helping to sending prices skywards in the process.The Russian export monopoly reduced gas exports to Europe last week after domestic demand soared amid plummeting temperatures. Gazprom said it could deliver contracted volumes to European customers – but despite a cold snap gripping Europe, too, the firm said it would not be able to supply any additional gas as utilities try to meet increased heating demand."[European gas] supplies decreased slightly, by around 10%, for several days, and to Poland and Italy for basically one day. The rest of the time [our supplies were] in line with the contra