Halle (dpa/sa) – To ensure an affordable gas supply for energy-intensive companies in Saxony-Anhalt, the Halle-Dessau Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) is calling for a tougher approach to the Russian state-owned company Gazprom. “We finally have to put an end to the fact that Gazprom keeps stepping on the noses of its German customers,” said President Steffen Keitel on Tuesday.
Germany needs a change of course: “If Nord Stream 1 is said to be so vulnerable, then Gazprom should deliver via the brand new Nord Stream 2 pipeline,” explained Keitel. Technical vulnerabilities then failed as a reason for reduced or stopped deliveries. Regular gas deliveries via Nord Stream 2 would also have the advantage that the gas price could fall significantly worldwide.
Gazprom failed to resume gas supplies through Nord Stream 1 to Europe on Saturday after scheduled turbine maintenance. Gazprom justifies the delivery stop with escaping oil from the turbine and the resulting fire hazard. The cause of the leak is a design flaw in the turbine supplied by Siemens Energy.
