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RWE headquarters in Essen
Photo: THILO SCHMUELGEN / REUTERS
After the energy group Uniper, the Essen-based utility RWE is now also demanding compensation from the Russian Gazprom group for the lack of gas deliveries.
RWE has initiated arbitration proceedings against Gazprom, the company said, but gave no details.
Uniper initiated arbitration proceedings against Gazprom in Stockholm last week.
The group, which is about to be nationalized, had estimated the financial damage caused to the company by expensive replacement purchases for Russian gas at 11.6 billion euros.
Uniper is by far Gazprom's largest German customer.
The amount in dispute in the case of RWE is therefore likely to be significantly lower.
The "Handelsblatt" quotes the analyst Guido Hoymann from Metzler Bank with the assessment that losses at RWE may be less than one billion euros.
Gazprom, like Uniper, withdrew its demands.
It is unclear whether there will be any proceedings at all.
According to Uniper CEO Klaus-Dieter Maubach, both parties must agree on an arbitrator.
If Gazprom refuses, it won't work.
Maubach said it owed it to shareholders, employees and German taxpayers to take legal action.
If necessary, Uniper will go before German courts.
The Leipzig-based gas group VNG, which was also hit hard by the Russian supply freeze, did not want to comment on whether it is also seeking proceedings against Gazprom.
“We are examining all options,” was all they said there.
ssu/Reuters