Eni "in view of the imminent payment deadlines for the next few days, has started as a precautionary procedure the procedures relating to the
opening at Gazprom Bank of the two current accounts denominated K, one in euro and one in rubles
, indicated by Gazprom Export according to a claim unilateral amendment of existing contracts, in line with the new procedure for the payment of gas ordered "by Russia.
Eni "has already rejected these changes".
"The decision,
shared with the Italian institutions
- he continues - was taken
in compliance with the international sanctions framework
and in the context of an ongoing discussion with Gazprom Export".
Gazprom Export is responsible for "any cost or risk connected with the different execution of payments".
Eni writes this in the statement in which he announces that he has started the procedures for opening the two accounts at Gazprom Bank.
The execution of payments in these ways "does not
currently find any European regulatory provision that envisages prohibitions
that directly affect the possibility of carrying out the aforementioned operations".
Eni "has already clarified that the fulfillment of contractual obligations is intended to be
completed with the transfer in euros
, and will renew the clarification with the opening of the K accounts.
Eni will continue to pay gas to Russia in euros.
"On the one hand, to date, Gazprom Export and the competent Russian federal authorities have confirmed that the invoicing (received by Eni in the last few days in the contractually correct currency) and the related payment by Eni will continue to be carried out in euros, as well as contractually envisaged ", explains the Italian group.
"The operational activities of converting the currency from euro to rubles - continues Eni - will be carried out by a specific clearing agent operating at the Moscow Stock Exchange within 48 hours of crediting and without the involvement of the Russian Central Bank".
