The Russian state natural gas concern “Gazprom” announced on Wednesday that it cannot guarantee the safe operation of the “Nord Stream” pipeline and does not know whether it will be possible to get back an important turbine engine from repairs in Canada.
“Gazprom” stopped the supply of gas from Russia to Germany through the “Nord Stream” pipeline, built along the Baltic Sea bed, for ten days on Monday due to the planned maintenance work.
The gas flow is expected to be restored on the morning of July 21, but German officials fear that this may not happen.
The turbine engine is being repaired at the Canadian subsidiary of the German industrial concern “Siemens”.
“Gazprom does not have any documents that would allow Siemens to take out of Canada the gas turbine engine that is currently being repaired there,” Gazprom said.
“In such circumstances, it is impossible to make an objective conclusion about the development of the situation and guaranteeing the safe operation of the Portovaya compressor station,” the Russian company emphasized, noting that this station, located near Vyborg in the Leningrad region of Russia, is essential for the operation of “Nord Stream”.
In the middle of June, “Gazprom” announced that the gas supplies via “Nord Stream” are being significantly reduced, because of the delay in receiving the turbine from Canada due to sanctions. German officials have said that such a Russian decision was made for political, not technical reasons.
Despite sanctions imposed on Russia and objections from Ukraine, Canada allowed the turbine to be shipped to Germany over the weekend.
In protest against this decision, the Canadian diplomatic representative was summoned to the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
Annual maintenance work on Nord Stream has been scheduled for a long time, but there are fears that Gazprom may use this opportunity to cut off gas supplies
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