Russia will remain a reliable supplier of energy to global markets, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday in a video address to the United Nations’ energy conference.
Russian gas giant Gazprom OGZPY has been accused of not doing enough to increase its natural gas supplies to Europe, where gas prices have soared.
Gazprom says it fulfils its contractual obligations on gas supplies to its clients in full.
Benchmark European gas prices have risen more than 250% this year, leading to higher power prices and a knock on effect on industries reliant on gas for their production such as fertilizer plants.
Novak said it was vital that the global energy industry reduces its impact on the climate but added that is was important not to restrict access to sources of energy.
“Climate issues should not be used as arguments during competition for energy markets,” he said.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Tom Balmforth, Editing by Louise Heavens)