Kremlin denies restricting gas supplies to Europe for political gain [_link]

— The Guardian (@guardian) December 22, 2021

The German power suppliers RWE and Uniper, both among the largest customers of Gazprom, said the state firm was meeting its delivery obligations.

The pipeline reversal has added to other pressures that have kept gas prices high for much of 2021, with knock-on effects that have included a raft of UK energy suppliers going bust.

Underlying factors fuelling the fresh spikes include colder weather and strong power station demand, with some French nuclear plants closed to address safety concerns.

Ships carrying liquefied natural gas bound for Asia have been turning around to supply European consumers willing to pay a large premium amid price spikes, the Financial Times reported this week.