OREANDA-NEWS. The EU will continue to increase purchases of Russian gas in the foreseeable future, regardless of its cost, which is tied to oil prices. This was announced to the Russian media on Thursday by Russia's Permanent Representative to the EU Vladimir Chizhov.

“As for gas prices, the European Union will, at any price, buy more and more gas in the foreseeable future”, he said. Chizhov recalled that Russian gas prices for the EU "are tied to oil prices, but with a time lag of 9 months" within the framework of the Groningen pricing model.

“I see the volatility of current oil prices and exchange rates as a serious, but rather short-term phenomenon. I think that achieving stability in both prices and rates is in our common interests with partners”, the Russian Permanent Representative said. He noted that "in the indefinite future, the EU intends to completely abandon hydrocarbon fuels, including natural gas, which is reflected in the so-called Green EU Course".

“Brussels is exploring the possibility of switching to biomethane and hydrogen. We will leave the degree of environmental friendliness of biomethane and its production outside the brackets, and hydrogen, of course, is a very good pure product, but rather energy-intensive in production. In addition, it has another“ small ”drawback - a very easily explodes", He said .