Gas supplies to the EU via its major pipeline will once again be substantially reduced, according to Russian energy giant Gazprom, because of maintenance.
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline’s daily gas production would be reduced to 20% by stopping a further turbine, according to Gazprom, reducing the available supply.
According to the German government, there is no technological basis for restricting gas supply.
It will probably make it harder for EU nations to restock their gas supplies before winter.
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which transports gas from Russia to Germany, has been operating well below capacity for weeks and was shut down entirely earlier this month for a 10-day maintenance period.
Last year, Russia provided 40% of the gas consumed in the EU, and the EU has accused Russia of using energy as a weapon.
The European Commission has encouraged nations to reduce their gas consumption by 15% over the next seven months after Russia threatened to reduce or stop all shipments.
The voluntary aim may turn into a mandatory one under the ideas in a crisis.
The Kremlin insists that Russia is a trustworthy energy partner and attributes the current suspension of gas shipments to the EU to Western sanctions.
According to Gazprom, it has been compelled to limit the gas flow through Nord Stream 1 to just 40% of its maximum capacity due to the delayed return of equipment serviced in Canada as a result of sanctions.
Nord Stream 1’s ongoing drop in gas supply will probably make it harder for nations to restock before winter when gas demand is substantially higher.
Because these countries refused to follow a Kremlin directive to pay their bills in roubles rather than in euros or dollars, Gazprom has completely stopped supplying gas to Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and Poland.
