On April 25th at 10:30 p.m. on ORF 2
Vienna (OTS) – On Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 10:30 p.m. on ORF 2, Dieter Bornemann will present an “Eco Special” designed by Johannes Schwitzer-Fürnsinn on the topic “The Russia Connection: How OMV has made itself and Austria dependent on Russian gas “:
Austria still depends on Russian gas. In some months this winter, almost 100 percent of the gas imported was Russian, supplied by the state-owned company Gazprom to the Austrian OMV. Hardly any other country is so dependent on Vladimir Putin when it comes to energy. OMV and Gazprom have been a shared destiny or almost a marriage for decades. At least the “Golden Wedding” was celebrated in 2018 after 50 years of business relationships. Vladimir Putin was in Vienna and new gas supply contracts were concluded until 2040. It is these contracts that make it difficult for Austria to exit: even if OMV does not buy the gas, it has to pay for it.
There have already been events that could have led to a rethink: for example the gas crisis in 2009 or the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014. But nothing could harm the Russia connection. On the contrary: more and more Russian gas flowed to Austria. Only now are questions being asked publicly. Why did the OMV managers get involved and why didn’t politicians do anything about it?
Of course Austria benefited from this. For decades, the supply of Russian gas was considered safe and cheap. This was a blessing for the local industry and the many households that switched from coal or oil heating to gas. A look back to 1968, when Russian gas was brought to Austria for the first time, and a look forward: Will Ukraine soon no longer allow Russian gas through its pipelines and will Austria perhaps become independent of Russian gas?