By 
Reuters
As deadlines loom, Russia says EU gas clients open payment accounts
LONDON (Reuters) -Half of Russian gas giant Gazprom’s 54 clients have opened accounts at Gazprombank, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday, as European companies approach imminent payment deadlines. Companies in the European Union have been trying to confirm for weeks how they can legally buy Russian gas, after Moscow demanded foreign buyers start paying in roubles and cut gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland last month after they refused to do so. Russia has said foreign companies need to open two accounts to comply with its new payment mechanism – one for foreign currency, and one for roubles – and European companies need to complete any currency conversion within 48 hours.
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