Canada should immediately block the shipment of five other turbines destined for the Russian Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline from Montreal, begs the ambassador of Ukraine to the country, who asks his ally for proof of “courage”.
“It is now clear that the five additional turbines will be refused [par la Russie]adding to the humiliation,” said Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada, Yuliia Kovaliv, alluding to the fact that the first turbine sent was not even taken over by Gazprom — she is believed to be currently stuck in Germany.
The diplomat was invited to address the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development in Ottawa, which was examining Thursday Canada’s decision to allow the export of Siemens turbines for the Russian gas giant.
The representative of the Ukrainian government strongly criticized this decision, describing it as a “dangerous precedent” which “violates international solidarity”, and “contrary to the rule of law”. “Russia’s ability to wage war is based on its oil and gas revenues. Why Canada and other allies [de l’Ukraine] have imposed sanctions is to strip Russia of these revenues. »
This whole affair demonstrates, according to the ambassador, the threat to Europe posed by Russia and the instrumentalization of its gas industry. She also suggested that Ukrainian gas facilities could better supply Europe.
“Russia has not restored the flow of gas, and is asking for more concessions,” also pointed out to the committee the President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Alexandra Chyczij. “It is not too late to remit these sanctions. It is a revocable permit. »
Ottawa justifies its decision
Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, clarified that it was not just one, but six turbines from the Siemens company that Canada agreed to export over a two-year period. This exception to the sanctions against Russia takes the form of a permit that the government can withdraw at any time.
Minister Joly did not suggest that she would revoke this permit on Thursday, when she answered questions from the committee along with her colleague from Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson.
The latter added that the Siemens plant in Montreal was the only one in the world that could do this kind of maintenance work on the turbines. The ministers, who say they discuss Europe’s energy security “almost every day”, justified the exception granted to the export of these turbines.
The ministers argued that this “difficult decision” has “eliminated Putin’s excuse” to cut off gas to Europe, in addition to representing “a sign of support” for its allies in the Old Continent. This gesture is consistent with the sanctions imposed on Russia by Canada, argues Minister Wilkinson, since these are designed “to punish Putin, not to jeopardize Europe’s energy security”.
Germany’s ambassador to Canada, Sabine Sparwasser, welcomed the move, making similar arguments to those put forward by the Canadian government. According to her, Germany would already do everything in its power to reduce its dependence on Russian gas. ” [Les sanctions] must not harm us any more than they harm Russian interests,” insisted the German ambassador.
The sanctions imposed by Canada on Russia would also be much broader than those implemented elsewhere, because they do not exclude industrial equipment related to the transport of gas.
More Canadian gas in Europe
Canada’s sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine are consensus among all parties represented in the House of Commons. The various opposition parties have all indicated that they want to increase, not decrease, these sanctions.
Conservative MP James Bezan called the decision to send turbines for Gazprom a “disgrace” for Canada.
“You have to explain to the French and the Germans and the Europeans how they are going to survive this winter! replied Minister Wilkinson in a flight, during one of the few cacophonous moments of the appearance.
According to the Minister of Natural Resources, Canada could not until now sell natural gas to Europe at a price comparable to cheap Russian gas. However, the situation is about to change. “We are working on possibilities [de projets] of [gaz naturel liquéfié] on the east coast,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, who also promises to send 300,000 barrels of oil and gas to Europe this year.
On Wednesday, during a joint press conference with her German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, Minister Mélanie Joly also said that she had had “discussions” with Germany on certain Canadian energy projects, including liquefied natural gas. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also due to visit Canada in August with the aim of “forming strategic partnerships” in this area.