EU: Sanctions not preventing turbines from returning to Russia

By Al-Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 Aug 2022 18:24

EU argues that sanctions against Russia do not affect the return of the turbine to Gazprom Russia; however, the latter argues otherwise.

Gazprom said that the turbine in question is vulnerable to sanctions from the EU, UK, and Canada

Spokesperson for economic affairs of the European Commission, Ariana Podesta, said that the EU believes that the sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia do not impact the return of a Siemens turbine to Gazprom.

Podesta told a news briefing that "The EU sanctions regime does not affect goods or technology linked to the industrial transport of natural gas into the EU nor is Nord Stream 1 subject to any sanctions, so from our perspective there is nothing in the sanctions that should affect the repatriation of the turbine."

Gazprom argued his week that the return of the turbine to a German third party by Canada could be considered a breach of its contract with the UK-based Siemens unit for the turbine's maintenance in Canada.

Based on such information, Gazprom said that the turbine in question, as well as other turbines covered by the contract, were vulnerable to sanctions from the EU, UK, and Canada.

In July, Gazprom cut gas supply to the EU by a fifth, at 33 million cubic meters. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stated that the turbine is ready for delivery and that there is no need to delay its return any further.