Canada sent a turbine for the Nord Stream gas pipeline to Germany by plane on July 17 after repair work was completed, the Kommersant newspaper reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the situation.
The return of the turbine from Canada to Russia’s Portovaya compressor station, a key element of Nord Stream, has been in the spotlight for the past month after Russian energy producer Gazprom cut gas supplies to Germany.
Europe has seen a cut in Russian gas supplies amid already soaring energy costs and broader inflation after what Moscow calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine triggered wide-ranging Western sanctions against Russia.
Read more: Why return of Canadian turbine to Russia’s Gazprom sparks sparks? Here’s what we know
Nord Stream 1 is currently undergoing scheduled annual maintenance due to end on July 21 and has completely shut down flows.
Story continues below the ad
However, there are fears that Russia could extend the work period, throwing plans to fill Europe’s gas storage for the winter into disarray and deepening a crisis that has prompted emergency measures by governments and painfully high bills for consumers.
It will take another five to seven days for the turbine, operated by Germany’s Siemens Energy, to reach Russia, if there are no problems with logistics and customs, Kommersant writes.
Trending stories
-
Joe Rogan Says Canada Is ‘Communist’, Calls Justin Trudeau ‘Shithole’
-
Huge waves wash over a two-story apartment in Hawaii as a huge commotion ensues
0:45 Government decision to allow return of Gazprom turbines ‘a slap in the face of the Ukrainian people’: Genuis Government decision to allow return of Gazprom turbines ‘a slap in the face of the Ukrainian people’: Genuis
The daily said the turbine would be shipped from Germany by ferry and then transported overland via Helsinki. The equipment is expected to arrive in Russia around July 24, and preparations will take another three to four days, the publication reports.
Gazprom said on Saturday it expects Siemens to fully meet its obligations in servicing the gas turbines needed for the reliable operation of Nord Stream and energy supplies to Europe.
Story continues below the ad
Germany’s economy ministry said Monday it could not provide details on the turbine’s location.
Read more: Gazprom turbine return to Germany ‘very difficult’ but important move: Trudeau
But a ministry spokesman said the turbine was a spare part that was only meant to be used from September, meaning its absence could not be the real reason for the drop in gas flows before maintenance.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov referred questions to Gazprom. Gazprom and the Russian Energy Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday that Ukrainians would “never accept” Canada’s decision to return the turbine, saying the move violated sanctions.
Add Comment