The Russian energy giant Gazprom recently reduced gas supplies to Germany dramatically and justified this by saying that they do not get back a gas turbine that has been sent to one of German Siemens’ plants in Canada for repair.
Germany fears severe energy shortages this winter and is now asking Canada to return the turbine. This can be done without Canada thereby violating the Western sanctions imposed on Russia, the German government believes.
A spokesman for the Berlin government, Steffen Hebestreit, said on Friday that Germany had been in constant contact with the Canadian government and had received “positive signals”.
At the same time, the Ministry of Finance in Berlin emphasizes that instead of returning the gas turbine to Gazprom, Canada can send it to Germany, in order to have its back free legally.
– Blackmail
Ukraine, on the other hand, believes that the turbine should remain in Canada and asks that it not give in to what they describe as “blackmail from the Kremlin”.
– We ask Canada not to return Gazprom’s turbine to Russia, but to Ukraine instead, writes the head of the Ukrainian gas pipeline network OGTSU, Sergij Makogon, on Facebook.
According to Makogon, Germany can get all the gas it needs via pipelines from Ukraine, which could cover the loss of Russian gas.
– Ukraine can transport as much gas as through Nord Stream, he says.
May increase
Russia announced on Friday that it is willing to increase gas supplies to Europe through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline as soon as they get the gas turbine back from Canada.
“If the turbine is returned after being repaired, they will allow an increase in volumes,” said President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, referring to Gazprom.
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