Russian gas giant Gazprom said on Wednesday that it could not guarantee the proper functioning of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which supplies Europe, saying it was unable to confirm that it will recover a German turbine repaired in Canada.
These statements come as this gas pipeline is currently shut down for ten days for maintenance reasons, European countries fearing that Moscow will use a technical reason to permanently halt its deliveries and thus put pressure on them in the context of the conflict in Ukraine. .
Even before the shutdown of Nord Stream, Russia had sharply reduced deliveries in recent weeks, justifying them by the lack of Siemens turbines, necessary according to it to operate the compressor stations of the gas pipeline and several units of which were sent to a brand’s Montreal factory for repair.
“Gazprom does not have in its possession any document allowing Siemens to bring the gas turbine engine for the Portovaya compressor station out of Canada,” the Russian group said in a statement.
“Under these conditions, it is not possible to draw an objective conclusion” concerning the “safe operation of the Portovaïa compressor station, which is an essential equipment of the Nord Stream gas pipeline”, added the group.
Sanctions “not to punish our allies”
Canada, however, announced on Saturday that it would return the turbines intended for Nord Stream to Germany, despite sanctions against Moscow and calls from Ukraine not to “submit to the blackmail of the Kremlin”.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, deeming the decision “difficult”, recalled Wednesday that the sanctions put in place “are there to punish Putin and his friends and not to punish our allies and the populations of Europe”.
Ottawa justified its decision to return this equipment by its desire not to increase the risk of a major energy crisis on the European continent, which depends heavily on Russia for its gas supplies. Mr. Trudeau explained that the Canadian government made this choice in response to Russia’s attempts to militarize Europe’s access to energy sources.
The Canadian ambassador to Ukraine was also summoned to kyiv on Monday following the “unacceptable” return by Canada to Germany of turbines intended for the Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream.
The Ukrainian World Congress, which wants to be the voice of the Ukrainian community around the world, also sued the Canadian government on Tuesday in Federal Court to challenge its decision. In court documents, the body argues that Gazprom’s demand for its turbines constitutes a “dishonest scheme”.
Transportation by Siemens
Difficulties around Nord Stream deliveries come as European countries scramble to fill their winter reserves.
Germany has described Moscow’s decision to cut deliveries via Nord Stream in recent weeks as “political”.
The German government also indicated on Monday that Siemens was “now in the process of planning the transport and deployment [de la turbine] as soon as possible”, without specifying a timetable for the return of the said turbine.
“Siemens will take care of transportation, in agreement with the Canadian side, and then further transportation to Russia,” a spokesperson said Monday.
In addition, the European Commission had confirmed last week that this type of equipment was exempt from the European Union sanctions regime. The latter supports Ukraine, which is facing a military offensive from Moscow.
With The Canadian Press