Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said that the Russian Gazprom, which owns one of the largest gas storage facilities in Central Europe in Salzburg, must fill it with gas, otherwise it will be transferred to other companies for use..

Nehammer stated this in an interview with the Austrian edition of Kleinen Zeitung.. According to him, Austria has developed a step-by-step plan to eliminate dependence on Russian natural gas and measures are being taken to find alternative fuel suppliers.. In addition, the state strategic gas reserve has been created in the country..

" We also clearly and resolutely look at the huge Gazprom storage facility in Gaidakh. If it is not filled, then we will take measures so that it is filled,"

At the same time, the head of the Austrian government noted that we are not talking about the nationalization of the gas storage. According to him, " That is, if you use it, then everything is in order, if you do not use it, then other companies can access it.

Haidach is strategically important for Germany, as well as for the western federal states of Austria," According to the chancellor, the Austrian authorities are already creating an appropriate legal framework.

" If it (is not filled in, other energy companies should use it,"

According to the Kleinen Zeitung, the underground gas storage facility in the Heides near Salzburg is the second largest storage facility in Central Europe..

It can store a quarter of Austria's annual gas consumption. According to the publication, the storage facility, owned by the Russian gas company Gazprom, is now empty, although it should store a strategic supply of gas that is needed in the event of a possible shutdown of supplies..

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