New efforts to break the deadlock between Russia and Ukraine and restore gas supplies to freezing European countries were planned on Friday, with the intervention in the dispute of a consortium of energy firms.
Paolo Scaroni, chief executive of Italian energy giant Eni SpA (ENI.MI) said late on Thursday the consortium would provide gas necessary for technical reasons to get pipelines and pumping stations working again.
The move could allow gas supplies to Europe to get under way immediately, leaving the question of reimbursement for the consortium’s gas on hold until an agreement between Ukraine and Russia on their price dispute is reached.
Meanwhile, an official from Gazprom explains their point of view on the Wall Street Journal.