This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine

MOSCOW, Aug 16 Reuters Russian state gas company Gazprom said on Tuesday that European gas prices could spike by 60 to more than 4,000 per 1,000 cubic metres this winter, as the company39;s own export and production continues to fall amid Western sanctions.

Gas flows from Russia, Europe39;s top supplier, are running at reduced levels this year, after one route was shut when Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in February and after sanctions triggered a dispute about the Nord Stream 1 pipeline39;s equipment. Gas prices have surged as a result.

European spot gas prices have reached 2,500 per 1,000 cubic metres. According to conservative estimates, if such a tendency persists, prices will exceed 4,000 per 1,000 cubic metres this winter, Gazprom said.

Dutch wholesale gas prices hit an alltime high of nearly 335 euros per megawatt hour MWh in spring. They have dipped since then to around 226.00 euros per MWh on Tuesday but remain far higher than a year ago when they were about 46 euros per MWh.

Kyiv has shut one of Gazprom39;s routes for exports to Europe, while Gazprom has reduced supplies to only 20 of the capacity of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany amid the equipment dispute.

Overall, Gazprom39;s gas exports fell by 36.2 to 78.5 billion cubic metres between Jan. 1 and Aug. 15 and production was down by 13.2 to 274.8 billion cubic metres comparing to a…