35 minutes agoRussia Stops Germany's Gas
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)Russia announced it will ban natural gas deliveries to Germany for ten days via the North Stream pipeline 1 July beginning on 11 July. Russian authorities said it is due to some annual maintenance work, but some in Germany are concerned that the Kremlin could find [...]
Russian authorities said it is due to several annual maintenance jobs, but some in Germany are concerned that the Kremlin could find or create reason to extend the ban, as the form of punishment for Berlin supporting Ukraine, both politically and with weapons, since Russia started its widespread invasion on February 24th.
The announcement for suspension of gas supplies comes after the Canadian government has said 10 July it will return a repaired North Stream gas pipeline 1 to Germany.
Turbina is expected to first be sent to Germany, then transferred to the Russian company Gazprom, which is the pipeline operator, so that Canada does not violate West sanctions against Russia.
Last month, Gazprom has reduced supply capacities through the North Stream pipeline 1 to 40 percent of normal levels, calling for the delayed return of equipment taken to the German company Siemens, Canada.
Moscow has said 8 July that it will increase its gas supply to Europe if it returns to turbines.
Work on the North Stream gas pipeline 1 was planned long ago, but some in the West have warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could use energy supplies as political weapons.
“Putin will shut down the gas faucet... but will it open again?” wrote the German newspaper Bild.
We're facing an unprecedented situation, everything is possible”, German deputy cascolar Robert Habeck said, about deutschlandfunk radio.
Could happen to run gas again, maybe more than before. Nothing may come. We must prepare for the worst scenario and do everything we can to cope with the” situation, he said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has denied that Russia uses oil and gas to exert political pressure and has said suspending supplies is a regular and planned thing.
The North Stream pipeline 1 carries 55 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas annually from Russia to Germany, under the Baltic Sea.
Moscow has cut off its gas supply to several European countries, which have failed to comply with its demands to pay rubles.
Germany depends heavily on Russian energy supplies and has warned that its economy could be in recession if Russian gas flows stop for a long period.
Since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Germany has made efforts to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, including through the construction of liquid natural gas ports.
Russia's economy could also suffer shocks if the pipeline closes for a long time, due to lost revenues.
Germany has already suspended its gas project, North Stream 2, as punishment for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
North Stream 2 ) half of which is owned by Gazprom, in consortium with European energy companies, is scheduled to double Russian gas deliveries to Germany. / REL/
