 No alternative to Russian gas for now. Austrian Chancellor. Austria is bound to continue receiving the bulk of its gas from Russia in the coming years. Chancellor Karl Nehama has acknowledged. He added that his government has been taking measures to cushion the potential cutting of gas transit through Ukraine at the end of 2024 and is trying to diversify suppliers. In an interview with Austria's broadcaster ORF, Nehama argued that Russian gas is not cheaper than any other. However, the way the pipeline system is arranged in Europe means the Russian fuel has dominated energy markets in Eastern and Central Europe for decades. According to the Chancellor, Austria may one day do without Russian gas, but this is unlikely to happen in the short term. For the time being, Vienna will continue to buy fuel from Moscow as its immediate priority is to see through the coming winter without deciding who gets energy, households or industries, he said. Nehama pointed out that Austria's largest gas provider OMV has contracts signed with Gazprom until 2040 and cannot simply pull out of those at the stroke of a pen. He also revealed that Austria is expanding conduits, connecting it with neighbouring Germany and Italy in the hope of finding alternative gas sources.