What begins as routine maintenance develops into an international scandal: the back and forth about the delivery of Siemens Energy's gas turbine from Canada to Russia is entering the next round. Gazprom has other conditions.
The Russian energy group Gazprom has asked Siemens Energy to initiate the return of the turbine for the natural gas pipeline Nord Stream 1. "On July 15, Gazprom officially approached Siemens with a request to provide documents that, taking into account the current sanctions rules in Canada and the EU, allow the gas turbine of the 'Portovaya' compressor station, which is essential for Nord Stream 1, to be exported to Russia." , the company announced on its Telegram channel.
At the same time, Gazprom is counting on Siemens Energy fulfilling its contract for the maintenance and repair of the gas turbines. The company warned that the further functioning of Nord Stream 1 depends on this.
Since June, Gazprom had significantly reduced gas supplies through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in the Baltic Sea, citing the lack of a Siemens Energy turbine, which was being serviced in Canada. Because of the sanctions imposed as a result of the Ukraine war, Canada initially refused to return the turbine to Russia - but then decided to hand the unit over to Germany instead.
Since Monday, Nord Stream 1 has stopped supplying gas due to maintenance work. The work is scheduled to last until July 21. Several Western politicians have expressed skepticism as to whether Gazprom will supply gas again afterwards. In the past few days, the company had raised doubts about the continued operation of Nord Stream 1. A safe operation of a "critical plant" on the pipeline is not guaranteed because there are doubts about the return of the turbine from Canada.
In Germany and other European countries, this had fueled concerns about a worsening gas shortage. Nord Stream 1 is one of several gas pipelines from Russia to Central Europe. Gas supplies flowed stably through Ukraine on Saturday, according to data from a measuring station.
