The gas export monopoly is struggling to meet export
commitments as a severe cold spell drives up gas demand for heating in Russia
and across Europe. Moscow is expected to face temperatures averaging minus 20
degrees Celsius for the next 10 days.
"Some nominations were higher than we can put in the
pipe," the source said. "The increase is due to higher nominations
which we have already for more than a week."
Gazprom supplies around a quarter of Europe's gas
imports, and cuts to Europe in the past, mainly over pricing rows with transit
countries such as Ukraine, have raised concerns over the security of supply
from Russia.
Earlier on Wednesday the company said in a statement that
it was adhering to long-term contracts with European clients after reports of
restricted supply.
"Despite increasing gas consumption in Russia due to
heavy frosts, Gazprom continues implementing its contractual obligations to
European clients," it said in e-mailed comments.
According to reports on Tuesday, Gazprom restricted
supplies to Europe, its largest foreign market, to cover an increase in
domestic demand.
GAS FLOWS HIKE?
The European Commission on Tuesday said that gas supplies
into Italy via the Austrian border had been reduced by 10 percent compared with
normal levels.
The commission has said it had enough natural gas to make
up for any shortfall and was confident demand could be met.
For its part, Gazprom said that the Blue Stream
underwater pipeline to Turkey is pumping at full capacity, while gas flows via
Yamal-Europe pipeline, which has an annual capacity of 33 billion cubic metres,
have been increased by 20 percent from last week.
"In order to fulfill export obligations, the company
has involved all the gas exporting routes and significantly increased offtake
from its underground storage facilities in Europe," it said.
Russia supplied Europe with 150 bcm of gas last year and
expects to increase that to around 164 bcm in 2012.
