On 7 June, the Stockholm Arbitration Court ruled in favour of the German energy company Uniper, allowing it to terminate its long-term contract with Gazprom Export and awarded it €13 billion in compensation for undelivered gas since mid-2022.
The ruling marks a significant legal victory for Uniper, which has been entangled in a dispute with Gazprom Export over gas supplies. According to the company’s statement, Uniper has now legally severed its long-standing relationship with the Russian state-owned company.
“Today, Uniper has decided to terminate its long-term gas supply contracts with Gazprom Export, thereby legally ending its long-term relationship with the Russian state company,” the statement reads.
The arbitration tribunal’s decision on 7 June permits Uniper to terminate these contracts and secure compensation from Gazprom Export for the gas volumes that were not delivered from mid-2022 onwards.
Despite the limited volumes of gas supplied since June 2022 and a complete halt of deliveries since late August 2022, the long-term contracts between the two companies remained legally binding. Some of these contracts were set to remain in effect until the mid-2030s.
Uniper initiated arbitration proceedings against Gazprom Export at the end of 2022, after suffering significant losses due to the restricted supply of Russian gas.
The contract had provisions for dispute resolution via arbitration, a mechanism both parties had utilised in past disputes.
The Stockholm Arbitration Court issued its ruling based on Swiss law. The decision is legally binding and final.
The background to this dispute lies in the broader context of European energy security and the significant reliance on Russian gas supplies. Since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine and subsequent sanctions on Russia, European countries have been striving to diversify their energy sources and reduce dependence on Russian gas.
Uniper, a major player in the European energy market, had been heavily reliant on Gazprom for its gas supplies. The disruptions since mid-2022 prompted Uniper to seek legal redress, aiming to mitigate the financial impact and secure alternative gas supplies to meet its commitments.
The Stockholm tribunal’s ruling could have broader implications for other European companies engaged in long-term contracts with Russian energy firms. It sets a precedent for legal recourse in cases of non-compliance with contractual obligations, especially in the volatile context of international energy markets.
Gazprom, on the other hand, faces significant financial and reputational repercussions from this ruling. The €13 billion compensation is a substantial penalty, reflecting the scale of the undelivered gas and the economic impact on Uniper.
This decision may prompt Gazprom to reassess its contractual commitments and supply strategies in the European market.
For Uniper, the ruling provides a critical opportunity to recalibrate its business strategy and reinforce its supply chain resilience. The company is likely to expedite its efforts to secure alternative sources of gas and invest in infrastructure to enhance its energy security.
Read also:
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