The Russian energy group Gazprom wants to have the turbine of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline that was repaired in Canada back from the German Siemens, because the pipeline between Russia and Germany can then be put back into operation, according to the company. Gazprom delivered 60 percent less gas through the pipeline than usual in recent weeks. According to the company, this was due to the missing part.
The Russian company started a planned overhaul of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline on Monday. As a result of that maintenance, no gas flows through at all. Maintenance is scheduled to take ten days. The European Union, and Germany in particular, is anxiously waiting to see if the taps will reopen after the maintenance.
Despite Western sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, Canada has granted a temporary permit to Siemens’ local subsidiary, which was servicing the turbine, to allow for the part’s return. However, Gazprom claims that it has received no guarantees that the machine will be returned.
Fear that Russia will close the pipeline
The annual work on the gas pipeline was already planned before the war in Ukraine. Now that relations between Russia and Western countries have reached an all-time low, there are fears that Gazprom may be shutting down the gas tap. If that is the case, there could be a gas shortage next winter, especially in Germany. This is expected to mainly affect the industry.
Germany is still dependent on Russia for a large part of its gas needs. Cutting off the gas supply via Nord Stream 1 by 60 percent was therefore seen by Berlin as a political choice of the Kremlin.
There is also a Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, but it is not in use. The gas pipeline was still awaiting formal approval from the German government. But German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced at the beginning of this year that he will not certify the commissioning of the pipeline because of the war in Ukraine. Germany may want to use parts of the Nord Stream 2 for a terminal for liquefied natural gas (LNG).
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