Russia’s state-owned natural gas company Gazprom stopped supplies to Austria early Saturday, according to the Vienna-based utility OMV after it said it would stop payments for the gas following an arbitration award.

The Russian energy company Gazprom abruptly halted deliveries of natural gas to Austria on Saturday following a legal dispute over supply interruptions. The stoppage was confirmed to dpa by Austrian energy company OMV spokeswoman Sylvia Shin.

Austria's OMV halts payments to Gazprom, following an arbitration award, leading to a cessation of Russian gas supplies. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer assured that Austria had an alternative supply of fuel.