Germany expects Canada to release a key component of the Russian pipeline that has been caught up in sanctions, a move that both Berlin and Moscow have said could ease gas flows to Europe.
as the Bloomberg agency reports citing a source with knowledge of the matter, Germany expects that Canada will soon send back the turbine. A German government spokesman told reporters on Friday that there were “positive messages from Canada”, although he could not confirm that the part was still on its way.
Releasing the turbine could potentially de-escalate the standoff between Russia and Germany over natural gas and help boost flows that have been sharply curtailed for weeks. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck has called on Canada to free up the turbine as he tries to stave off the prospect of rationed energy markets in Europe’s biggest economy this winter.
European gas prices fell by around 6% today.
The Kremlin said on Friday that if the Nord Stream turbine is sent back, then natural gas flows to Europe could be increased. The part will be sent first to Germany and from there to Russia, according to a German official.
Canadian officials did not immediately respond to the agency’s requests for comment.
The turbine, built in Canada by Siemens Energy, was sent to Montreal for repairs but has been idled due to sanctions on Russia’s oil and gas industry over its invasion of Ukraine. Hambeck proposed a sanctions bypass whereby the component would be delivered first to Germany and from there to Russia. Siemens Energy declined to comment.
Hambeck told Bloomberg earlier this week that the turbine must be returned before maintenance work begins on Monday. He also said that doing so would remove an excuse for Russian President Vladimir Putin to keep the pipeline closed.
Europe is facing its biggest energy crisis in decades, with main supplier Russia cutting gas flows in retaliation for Europe’s sanctions and military support for Ukraine. Russia has reduced flows to Germany, with Nord Stream carrying only 40% of normal volumes.
Germany – which was forced to “undo” decades of energy policy dependent on Russia after the war – is now bracing for Moscow to further squeeze flows and even the prospect of Nord Stream remaining closed after maintenance work.
Domestic problems
Sending the turbine back could be politically controversial for British Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, as the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada is the largest in the world outside of Russia. The Ukrainian community in Canada responded to Habeck’s appeal this week with an open letter to Trudeau urging him not to release the turbine.
In an attempt to calm any anger over the decision, Habeck promised to visit Ukraine with a German business delegation as soon as possible to support the country’s reconstruction.
“We fully recognize the suffering of the Ukrainian people caused by Russia, and we remain fully committed to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia and rebuilding the country,” Habek told Bloomberg. “Therefore, I plan to travel to Ukraine with a business delegation as soon as it becomes possible.”
Source: Capital
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