Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade head Josef Sikela stated in an EU energy ministers' meeting on Monday that Prague refuses to pay for Russian gas supplies in rubles, adding that the country may also completely shun Moscow's oil shipments by the end of the year.
"The Czech Republic intends to continue paying for gas in euros, especially since we buy most of it on Western European stock exchanges. The only Czech company that buys gas directly from the Russian Federation is the energy company CEZ, which pays and will continue to pay in euros," Sikela underlined.
The Czech industry and trade minister previously noted that the republic's gas storages are currently 30% filled, representing a "historical maximum". He added that there are ongoing government actions to have them 50% filled by the end of May, and 80% by the start of the next heating season.
