Gazprom cuts Nord Stream 1 gas flow to 20%

LAST UPDATE 18:40

Russian energy giant Gazprom announced on Monday that it is shutting down another turbine on the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline for maintenance, which will lead to further reductions in gas flows.

In particular, Gazprom said that due to the turbine shutdown, daily production capacity at Russia’s Portovaya compressor station will be reduced to 33 million cubic meters (mcm) of natural gas per day from 04:00 GMT on July 27, from its full capacity more than 160 mcm per day.

Gazprom’s announcement comes shortly after the Russian energy giant said Western sanctions were still hampering maintenance of the pipeline, arguing that Siemens’ documentation for the turbine, which had been sent for maintenance to Canada and was blocked for days there due to sanctions.

At this stage and after the matter was settled to return the Nord Stream turbine from Canada, Gazprom essentially refuses to receive it.

“Gazprom has studied (…) the documents, but must recognize that they do not eliminate previously identified risks and raise additional questions,” it said in a statement.

“Under these circumstances, Gazprom has again asked Siemens to provide immediate support in obtaining the required documents and clarifications in order to resolve the outstanding issues,” he adds.

Last week Russian President Vladimir Putin said another Nord Stream turbine was due to be sent for maintenance on or around July 26.

Which could reduce flows to 20% of the pipeline’s capacity unless the repaired turbine was returned to Moscow.

“We were told that we will soon receive the equipment from Canada. But so far Gazprom does not have official documents on this matter. And of course we must receive them, because they are our property, they are the property of Gazprom,” the Russian president had pointed out. .

As he had emphasized, the Russian side should receive not only the turbines but also the related documents.

It is noted that shortly after Gazprom’s announcement, the price of natural gas rallied more than 10% and has reached 177 euros per megawatt hour.

Germany: No technical reason for reducing flows

There is no technical reason for a reduction in natural gas supplies through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, a spokesman for the German Economy Ministry said after the announcement by Russia’s Gazprom.

“We have taken the announcement into consideration,” the ministry spokesman said. “According to our information, there is no technical reason for reducing the flow,” he added

It is recalled that European politicians have warned repeatedly recently that Russia may completely cut off natural gas flows, which is expected to push Germany into recession and lead to a spike in consumer prices.