VIENNA, April 14 (Reuters) – Russian gas group Gazprom’s (GAZP.MM) Austrian company has filed for insolvency and hopes to restructure, a lawyer for the enterprise mentioned on Friday, blaming a halt to Russian gas deliveries that he mentioned resulted from a dispute with Germany’s Uniper (UN01.DE).

The German utility mentioned in November it had launched an arbitration procedure in pursuit of billions of euros in compensation from Gazprom for undelivered gas, which brought the gas trader to the brink of collapse final year.

Gazprom’s export arm denied at the time that it was in breach of contract relating to gas supplies to Uniper and mentioned it did not accept the legality of the company’s claims.

“Gazprom Austria GmbH felt compelled to file for insolvency at the Vienna Industrial Court following the cessation of all-natural gas deliveries by Gazprom Export Ltd., St Petersburg,” lawyer Georg Unger mentioned in a statement, adding that deliveries had been halted for the reason that of a dispute with Uniper.

“Gazprom Austria GmbH is endeavouring to bring about a settlement with all parties involved as aspect of a restructuring procedure,” the statement added.

In response, Uniper mentioned it had suffered billions of euros in damages as a outcome of Gazprom not fulfilling its contractual obligations, and that it was thus taking legal action against the Russian group.

Uniper mentioned the legal action integrated claims against Gazprom Export LLC, which had been issued as aspect of injunction proceedings that Uniper applied and that it can enforce inside European laws.

“Please comprehend, on the other hand, that we do not supply any facts on the person measures in this context,” the enterprise, which was nationalised final year, mentioned.

Reporting by Francois Murphy editing by Barbara Lewis

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