The Kremlin says a gas turbine for Russia's Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline has not yet arrived after maintenance in Canada, but officials hope it will be installed "sooner rather than later" to allow gas flows to Europe to rise.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on July 26 that sanctions against Russia for its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine have complicated the work on Nord Stream 1, a major artery for gas supplies to reach the European Union, which has accused Moscow of weaponizing energy in retaliation for its isolation over the war.
Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom resumed gas flows through Nord Stream 1 last week after a 10-day maintenance break, but only at 40 percent of the pipeline's capacity. Russia said it was forced to lower the volume because of the delayed return of a turbine that was sent to Canada for maintenance.
This is an open gas war that Russia is waging against a united Europe."-- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy
Gazprom then said late on July 25 that it would further restrict the flows by another 50 percent from July 27 to 33 million cubic meters per day because it needed to halt the operation of a gas turbine at a compressor station on instructions from an industry watchdog.
Gazprom is expecting the turbine, serviced by Siemens Energy, to arrive from Canada after maintenance.
"Yes, indeed, there are some defects with the turbines. The turbine has not arrived after a major maintenance; it's on its way. We hope that it will happen...sooner rather than later," Peskov said.
He added that another turbine has also some defects.
Germany’s energy regulator on July 25 reiterated Berlin’s position that the cuts are not necessary for technical issues.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on July 25 urged Europe to retaliate against Russia's "gas war" by boosting its sanctions against Moscow.
"Today we heard new gas threats to Europe," Zelenskiy said in his evening video address on July 25. "This is an open gas war that Russia is waging against a united Europe."