Here's another good reason why the Austrian government may be in a hurry to fast track Welchau and other ADX prospects in Austrian.
Remember if they're not getting gas from Russia, the prices for gas will go up quite dramatically.
But if I can fast track their own gas that would be much cheaper.

Russian gas will not flow via Ukraine in 2025: EU

European Union assures Slovakia, Austria, Italy and Moldova that viable alternatives will be in place

The European Union has rejected the possibility of continuing Russian gas supplies via Ukraine to Slovakia, Austria, Italy and Moldova beyond 31 December this year, reassuring these nations that they will be able to source alternative supplies.

Russia axed almost all pipeline gas supplies to EU nations via Ukraine in late 2022 in response to Western sanctions imposed following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine earlier the same year.

However, Russian gas supplies continued to EU member states Austria, Italy and Slovakia, as well as Moldova, via intact pipelines running across Ukraine because of the lack of infrastructure to enable enough volumes from elsewhere.

Speaking at an EU Parliament committee meeting on Wednesday, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said the transit agreement with Russian gas giant Gazprom would not be renewed after it expires at the end of this year, and no new deal would be brokered.

Citing a recent EU study, Simson added that “there are alternative solutions to supply these countries which still receive some gas through the Ukrainian route”.

Simson said a return to “business as usual with Russia” is not possible, adding: “The EU is not interested in a prolongation of the gas transit arrangement with the Russians.”

“We have been preparing for the end of this [transit] contract for two years since the manipulation of the gas market [by Gazprom] started, “ Simson said.

“Alternative options are available to ensure our security of supply. Right now, our main focus is on ensuring maximum support to Ukraine and the phase out of Russian gas as soon as possible.”

The original transit deal called for Gazprom to send at least 109 million cubic metres per day of gas to EU nations via Ukraine, though supplies have been running just over 40 MMcmd since the second half of 2022, when one of the pipeline entry points on the Russia–Ukraine border was captured by the Russian forces.

The EU’s decision not to pursue an extension to the contract backs the stance taken by Ukraine, which argues that Russia uses revenues from the arrangement to help bankroll its assault on the country.

However, it was recently revealed that Austria remains dependant on Russian volumes, Austrian Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler saying this week that it accounted for 98% of its gas imports in December last year.

The ministry noted that the high share was due more to a 25% decline in Austria’s gas consumption during the past year, rather than increased imports of Russian gas imports.

And Austrian gas player OMV recently stated that it has alternative supply deals in place for when the Russian gas transit supplies stop.

Slovakia, meanwhile, had earlier urged Ukraine to continue with the Russian gas transit supplies, though no such formal requests have bene made by Italy or Moldova,
both of which have secured alternative supply arrangements.