According to the Russian gas company Gazprom, it is “impossible” to deliver the turbine for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline that is available in Germany to Russia because of the sanctions imposed on Moscow. In a statement released on Wednesday, the company also cited “uncertainties about the current situation regarding Siemens’ contractual obligations.” Both together make “the delivery impossible”.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had previously accused Russia of blocking the delivery of the important turbine in order to continue to throttle the amount of gas delivered. The turbine for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline can be used at any time and can be delivered, said the SPD politician on Wednesday during a visit to the energy technology group Siemens Energy in Mülheim an der Ruhr. The machine is temporarily stored there on its way from Canada to Russia. According to Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens), the unit has been in Germany since July 18.
“The turbine is there, it can be delivered, someone just has to say I want it, then it will be there very quickly,” emphasized Scholz. Nothing will then stand in the way of gas transport through Nord Stream 1. “It is obvious that nothing, absolutely nothing, stands in the way of the onward transport of this turbine and its installation in Russia.” The reduction in gas supplies via Nord Stream 1 and the failure to fulfill gas supply contracts have no technical reasons, the Chancellor said.
Germany is desperately looking for alternative energy sources to fill the gap left by reduced gas supplies from Moscow.
With the lack of the Siemens turbine, which had been serviced in Canada, the Russian energy company Gazprom had justified the reduction of gas deliveries to only 20 percent of the possible extent.
