‘Terror on Europe’: Gazprom cuts drastically Nord Stream 1 deliveries

A Gazprom office in St. Petersburg, Russia, 21 July 2022. [EPA-EFE/ANATOLY MALTSEV]

As Gazprom cut drastically its deliveries to EU countries, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of using disruptions in gas supply to inflict what he called “terror on Europe” and urged the EU to agree tougher sanctions against Russia.

Gazprom said it is cutting daily gas deliveries to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to 33 million cubic metres a day — about 20% of the pipeline’s capacity — from Wednesday (27July).

The company said in a statement on Monday that it was halting the operation of one of the last two operating turbines due to the “technical condition of the engine”.

The supplies from the Portovaya compressor station will be slashed from 7:00 am Moscow time Wednesday, the company said.

The German government said there was no technical justification for Gazprom’s announcement.

“According to the information we have there is no technical reason for a reduction of deliveries,” a German economy ministry spokeswoman told AFP.

German group Siemens Energy, which is charged with maintaining the turbine, also said in a statement to AFP that it saw “no link between the turbine and the gas cuts that have been implemented or announced”.

Gazprom’s announcement came after Russia last week restored critical gas supplies to Europe through Germany via Nord Stream after 10 days of maintenance, but only at 40% of the pipeline’s capacity.

Germany, which is heavily dependent on Russian gas, has accused Moscow of using energy as a “weapon”.

The Kremlin says the gas disruption is the result of maintenance issues and Western sanctions, while the European Union has accused Russia of energy blackmail.

Gazprom cut flows to Germany via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline under the Baltic Sea in recent weeks, blaming the absence of a Siemens gas turbine that was undergoing repairs in Canada.

Earlier Monday, Gazprom said it had received paperwork related to the delayed delivery of the turbine but pointed out a number of issues remained, including those relating to EU and UK sanctions.

Siemens contests Gazprom’s argument

But Siemens contested the argument.

“The transportation of the turbine could start immediately. The German authorities provided Siemens Energy with all the necessary documents for the export of the turbine to Russia at the beginning of last week. Gazprom is aware of this,” the German group said in its statement.

“What is missing, however, are the customs documents for import to Russia. Gazprom, as the customer, is required to provide those,” it added.

Commission chief says turbine cannot be blamed for Russian gas flow curbs

A turbine currently missing for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline cannot be used as an excuse not to restart gas deliveries to Europe, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday (20 July).

The showdown comes amid raging tensions over Russia’s intervention in Ukraine. EU states have accused Russia of squeezing supplies in retaliation for Western sanctions over the offensive.

Russia increases gas pipeline pressure

Adding to concerns on the energy front, the Ukrainian state pipeline operator company said Russian gas giant Gazprom without prior notice has increased pressure sharply in a pipeline that runs through Ukraine to deliver Russian gas to Europe.

Such pressure spikes could lead to emergencies including pipeline ruptures, and pipeline operators are obliged to inform each other about them in advance, the Ukrainian company said. Gazprom could not be immediately reached for comment.

The European Union has suggested that member states reduce demand for gas to secure winter stocks.

A total shutdown in imports or a sharp reduction in the flow from east to west could have a catastrophic effect on the European economy, shutting factories and forcing households to turn down the heat.

A number of countries said they oppose the EU plan to reduce demand for gas, with Warsaw on Monday voicing its objections to a 15% reduction in natural gas consumption.

“We cannot agree to this,” said Polish Climate Minister Anna Moskwa.

“It is difficult for countries to give the green light to a mandatory gas reduction without knowing what will happen next winter,” she added, quoted by the PAP agency.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his nightly video address on Monday, accused Moscow of using restrictions in gas supply to inflict what he called terror on Europe and urged the European Union to agree tougher sanctions against Russia.

“All this is done by Russia on purpose to make it as difficult as possible for Europeans to prepare for winter. And this is an open gas war that Russia is waging against a united Europe,” he said.

“And they do not care what will happen to the people, how they will suffer, from hunger due to the blocking of ports, or from winter cold and poverty. Or from occupation. These are just different forms of terror,” he added.

President Vladimir Putin warned the West earlier this month that sanctions risked triggering huge global energy price rises.

(Edited by Georgi Gotev)

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