Paris: The International Energy Agency said today that the interruption of gas supplies to Europe was totally unacceptable and urged Russian company Gazprom and Naftogaz of Ukraine to resume pumping urgently.

"Supplies have now come to a complete halt," the IEA said in a statement.

"This is completely unacceptable, given that European customers are not a party in this dispute."

The IEA said it urged "both Gazprom and Naftogaz to resume gas supplies to Europe immediately and reach a prompt, lasting settlement to their dispute."

The agency, the Paris-based energy monitoring and policy arm of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, said that it was "very concerned about the escalation of the dispute" between Gazprom and Naftogaz on the delivery of gas to Europe.

"Despite the reassuring statements late December by both parties that supply to Europe would not be interrupted, supplies have now come to a complete halt," it said.

This was unacceptable, given that European customers had long-term contracts with fair prices and had made prompt payments.

"The interruption is creating hardship during the coldest weather Europe has faced within a number of years."

The IEA said that "waiting for negotiations to resume and to be concluded should be no excuse for a disruption to gas supplies to European customers."

Source : PTI