Gazprom, the Russian gas giant, this week reduced gas deliveries to Germany by 60% via the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline. Other European countries are now deprived of Russian gas.
By Belga
LLimiting Russian gas supplies to Germany is a strategy to drive up prices, Federal Network Agency Chairman Klaus Müller told the DPA news agency on Saturday. “Russia has been supplying significantly less gas to Germany and Europe for several days. This is intended to destabilize us and drive up prices,” Müller said.
The “boss” of the Bundesnetzagentur (the German energy regulator) explained that the objective was to save gas and store it for the winter. The federal government is also arranging additional supplies of liquefied gas, he added. According to the Federal Network Agency, gas storage levels are at around 56.7% of capacity.
Gazprom, the Russian gas giant, this week reduced gas deliveries to Germany by 60% via the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline. Poland, Bulgaria, France and Finland are also now deprived of Russian gas while other countries, such as Slovakia, have seen reduced speeds.
Gazprom cited delays in repairing compressor turbines, but German Economy Minister Robert Habeck expressed skepticism at the explanation. According to him, this limitation is “politically motivated” by the Kremlin’s opposition to the sanctions decreed by the European Union following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The networks agency said on Saturday that the situation was “tense” but stable for the foreseeable future.
Italy denounces Gazprom’s “lies”
Italy also has to deal with a reduction in Russian gas supplies. The Italian group Eni announced Friday that Gazprom would only deliver 50% of the quantities requested for the third consecutive day. On a visit to kyiv on Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi called the explanations put forward by Gazprom “lies”.
“One of the explanations is that the maintenance (…) requires spare parts”, but “we, Germany and other (countries) think that these are lies”, he lambasted. The Italian government is due to hold an emergency meeting on the country’s energy supply next week.
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