The Company's gas exports to the countries beyond the FSU amounted to 17.9 billion cubic meters, which is 35.5 per cent (or 9.8 billion cubic meters) lower than the figure for the same period of 2021.

Russia sees the decision of the European Commission to classify nuclear energy and gas as clean energy sources as "important" and expects it to come into force in the next six months, Novak said.

The recent decision by the European Union to include nuclear power in the Taxonomy showed that nuclear power will be the driving force for decarbonisation.

The $11-billion pipeline, which has faced stiff opposition from the United States and some European states, was built last September across the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, but has been idle pending German and EU regulatory clearance.

The new agreement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in September 2021 by NuScale Power, KGHM and business engineering advisory consultancy PBE to jointly explore the deployment of NuScale's SMR technology as a repowering or repurposing solution for existing coal-fired power plants and electricity and heat for KGHM's industrial processes in Poland.

Austrian oil company OMV is one of Russian gas giant Gazprom's partners in the pipeline project connecting Russia to Germany, which has been completed but is not yet operational as it is awaiting German and EU regulatory approval.

European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell said Russia was using Europe's reliance on its energy exports for "geopolitical gain in the middle of a surge of energy prices worldwide."

She did acknowledge, however, that Gazprom was fulfilling its contracts, "but only at the bottom end of its commitments."

All clean electricity options were favoured in Estonia, according to the poll. A total of 57% of people expressed support for wind, and 50% for solar energy, whereas only 10% supported natural gas.

OCNI is an association of 240 Canadian suppliers to the nuclear industry. The Ukraine state enterprise Energoatom operates four nuclear power plants with 15 power units.

"Aside from a few additional Bcms which could be squeezed out of (mainly LNG) exporters -- probably only on an emergency basis -- there is no substantial, immediately available gas which could compensate for any significant interruption of Russian gas supplies,"

In January 2021, Azerbaijan started commercial gas supplies to Europe via the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, which entered operations in November 2020.

Nord Stream 1 appeared to be returning to full capacity, according to the operator's data, with hourly gas flow nominations reaching 73 GWh since the start of Feb. 1 gas day, compared with 69 GWh/h for Jan. 31.

Gas exports to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline keep growing within the framework of the long-term bilateral contract between Gazprom and CNPC.

Ukraine, which earns more than Poland from gas transit fees, may have to look at ways to diversify its own supplies and rethink its function in the European gas system. Until it does, it will continue to depend on Russia.