Russian giant Gazprom said on Wednesday it could not guarantee the smooth operation of the Nord Stream gas pipeline connecting Russia to Europe, saying it could not confirm it would take back a German turbine undergoing repairs in Canada.
On Monday, Gazprom began a 10-day maintenance process for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, while the European Union, particularly gas-dependent Germany, anxiously waits to see if gas can flow through the pipeline again.
The line’s turbines are currently undergoing maintenance at Siemens’ Canadian facilities, a move that has drawn criticism from Ukraine.
The Russian group said in a statement that “Gazprom has no documents allowing Siemens to remove the gas turbine engine from Canada,” and Ottawa said it wanted to return it to Berlin.
He added: “In this situation, it is not possible to reach an objective conclusion about the development of the situation and ensuring the safe operation of the Portovaya power plant (…), which is the main facility of the Nord Stream gas pipeline.
Despite pleas from Ukraine not to give in to Kremlin blackmail, Canada decided on Saturday to deliver a turbine needed to operate Nord Stream 1 to Germany to ease an energy crisis with Russia.
And Kyiv on Monday summoned Canada’s ambassador to protest the move, which it deemed “unacceptable.”
Although the annual maintenance of the pipeline has been planned for a long time, the fear is that with relations between Russia and the West deteriorating to an all-time low, Gazprom may simply seize the opportunity and decommission the pipeline. slow
Source: Lebanon Debate
