VIENNA, December 28. /TASS/. The Austrian economy was created on the basis of profitable supplies of Russian gas, Russian Ambassador to Vienna Dmitry Lyubinsky told TASS.

"They get gas under long-term profitable contracts, on which the construction of the Austrian economy has been based for decades <…> with our direct participation," he said. There is "an abyss" between political statements by today’s Austrian leadership and the reality, the diplomat added. "When abandoning Russian gas becomes a political goal this is hardly realistic. Austria is located in the heart of the continent, without access to sea. The shift to liquified natural gas will cause notable expenditures," he explained.

In June 2018, an agreement was signed to extend the existing contract between Gazprom Export LLC and OMV Gas Marketing&Trading GmbH for the supply of Russian natural gas to Austria until 2040. CEO of OMV Alfred Stern said that the company would continue purchasing Russian gas under the contract as it was not subject to EU sanctions.

The Austrian government has repeatedly said that it wants to cut dependence on Russian gas. According to figures provided by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG), supplies from Russia accounted for 90% of the country’s total gas imports in October 2023.