In the debate about the continued operation of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, the Russian energy company Gazprom is setting further conditions. The company said on Saturday it expects Siemens to fully meet its gas turbine maintenance obligations that are necessary for the reliable operation of the pipeline.
Gazprom has already managed to get a turbine serviced in Canada returned despite sanctions against Russia. Such turbines are used in compressor systems of pipelines.
Siemens spun off its turbine business some time ago, which is now operated by the independent company Siemens Energy. Siemens Energy recently stated that the company was intensively concerned with permits and logistics tasks for the reuse of the turbine.
Gazprom had asked Siemens Energy to initiate the return of the turbine. “On July 15, Gazprom officially approached Siemens with a request to provide documents that, taking into account the current sanctions rules in Canada and the EU, allow the gas turbine of the “Portovaya” compressor station, which is essential for Nord Stream 1, to be exported to Russia.” , the company announced on its Telegram channel on Saturday.
At the same time, Gazprom is counting on Siemens Energy fulfilling its contract for the maintenance and repair of the gas turbines. The company warned that the further functioning of Nord Stream 1 depends on this.
Ongoing maintenance work on the Baltic Sea pipeline, through which gas usually flows from Russia to Germany, is scheduled to last until July 21.
In the past few days, Gazprom had raised doubts about the continued operation of Nord Stream 1. A safe operation of a “critical plant” on the pipeline is not guaranteed because there are doubts about the return of the turbine from Canada. In Germany and other European countries, this had fueled concerns about a worsening gas shortage.
