According to new data released by the Austrian energy ministry, Austria’s energy imports are increasingly coming from Russia once again, rising from 41% in November, to 71% in December.

The percentages are still down from past months. In October, 77% of Austrian energy imports were from Russia, with just 23% from other sources. In February 2022, one year ago, Russia’s share of Austrian energy imports stood at 79%, with 21% of the deliveries from other sources. The ministry noted it had sourced the data for the report from the E-Control regulator.

Werner Steinecker, the outgoing general director of the Austrian energy concern Energie AG, had stated at the end of last year that Austria would continue to be dependent on Russian energy imports, contrary to the government’s assertions otherwise. He conceded in discussions with reporters that the assertions that the country had reduced its importation of Russian gas supplies to 20% were in fact untrue.

Steinecker explained that Russian gas was still being imported, however it was first being shipped, “in detour” so that it could then not be “called Russian.” He added, that he was “one hundred percent” describing “false labeling.”

Steinecker also noted, that as the United States was impeding the rapprochement between Russia and Europe, it was continuing to maintain the high costs of liquified natural gas (LNG) through its 20-year take-or-pay contracts, so as to profit on its supply to the region.

The Austrian government feels it has little choice but to seek its energy where it can find it. The Federation of Austrian Industries has warned that the Austrian economy and the welfare of the Austrian people would suffer “a serious blow” if the importation of Russian gas supplies were suspended. The Federation predicted it would immediately cots the economy 300,0000 jobs.