Kremlin-controlled energy giant Gazprom said on Wednesday (July 13) it could not guarantee the safe operation of a critical part of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline amid doubts about a turbine being returned from Canada.
Ottawa announced over the weekend that it had granted a permit for the return of the turbine needed for Russia’s Nord Stream 1 Portovaya compressor station.
According to reports, the compromise means that the turbine will first be sent to Germany to prevent Canada from violating sanctions. Germany is then to deliver the turbine to Russia.
Earlier this month, Gazprom reduced the capacity of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to just 40 percent of usual levels, citing the delay in returning the turbine, which is being serviced by German company Siemens Energy in Canada.
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline transports 55 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea every year. Ukraine asked Canada not to return the repaired part, saying it would undermine sanctions against Russia.
Siemens said Canada’s decision to ship the turbine to Germany from the Canadian repair facility was a necessary first step in order to reintegrate the turbine into the Siemens-operated Russian pipeline. The company assured that they want to get the turbine there as soon as possible.
“Gazprom does not have a single document allowing Siemens to buy a gas turbine engine from Canada for the Portovaya [Station] back,” Gazprom said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Under these circumstances, it is not possible to make an objective conclusion about the further development of the situation in order to ensure the safe operation of the Portovaya, which is a critical facility for the Nord Stream gas pipeline.”
Germany’s Economics Ministry declined to comment.
“We do not comment on Gazprom’s statements,” said a spokesman for the ministry.
The weekend’s announcement said Canada was issuing a “temporary and revocable authorization” to exempt the return of the equipment from Russian sanctions and also announced new measures in response to what Moscow called a “special military operation.” of Ukraine.
From the Canadian Explanation reveals that more than one of the Nord Stream 1 turbines is being serviced in Canada.
Die European Commission and the United States welcomed this decision.
Europe fears Russia could extend planned maintenance work to further cut Europe’s gas supplies. This would thwart plans to fill up storage for the winter and exacerbate the gas crisis that has prompted government emergency measures and painfully high consumer bills.
A spokesman for Siemens Energy said on Wednesday that after Canada’s first political step, the company’s experts were “working intensively on all other formal approvals and logistics.”
“These are processes that are subject to export and import controls. Our goal is to transport the turbine to its place of use as quickly as possible.
Ukraine’s energy and foreign ministries had urged Canada to reverse its decision, which it says amounts to adjusting the sanctions imposed on Moscow “to Russia’s whims.”
A group representing the Canadian-Ukrainian diaspora also said Tuesday it wanted the Canadian government’s decision to be reviewed in court to prevent the turbine from being returned.
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