Nord Stream 1: Gazprom announces indeterminate shutdown of pipeline

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Sep 2022 21:45
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Gazprom announces that gas flows have been halted again over maintenance issues with no specific timeframe for when gas deliveries will resume.

A leak was detected in a turbine at the Portovaya compressor station, according to the oil company.

Gas supplies via Nord Stream have completely stopped since August 31st and the operation of the pipeline has been suspended due to scheduled maintenance work at the Portovaya compressor station, data from gas transportation system operators showed.

A leak was located at the main gas turbine at the Portovaya compressor station near St Petersburg.

On August 19, Gazprom said it would halt the flow of gas through the pipeline from August 31 until September 2 due to routine maintenance.

Gazprom said today that supplies would remain halted through Saturday due to ongoing repair. The pipeline will reopen once repairs are fully completed.

Previously, Gazprom said gas would continue to flow on Saturday after a different turbine repair was required. However, Western sanctions have made it difficult for the oil company to pursue its maintenance routine.

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller stated on Wednesday that Siemens Energy, a pipeline equipment supplier, could not carry out regular maintenance because of sanctions.

pic.twitter.com/eJ7eBKAqAC
— Gazprom (@GazpromEN) September 2, 2022

Klaus Mueller, president of the Bundesnetzagentur, Germany's gas regulator, said, "For the time being, the LNG terminals, the relevant storage levels & significant savings requirements are becoming more important."

He added, "It's good that Germany is now better prepared, but now it's down to each and everyone."

Gas prices rise 5% more after Nord Stream suspension.

In response to the special operation in Ukraine, Western countries have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign particularly aimed at Russian energy resources. The consequences of this are that gas prices have soared, affecting households and industries alike.

Germany has especially been affected by gas supply shock due to their extensive use of natural gas and significant reliance on Russia.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said yesterday that the country "probably" can still manage this winter if Russia decides to completely halt gas supplies to Germany.

While European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen has argued in support of price caps on Russian gas to Europe, Moscow argued that it would be a sufficient reason to halt sales to all of Europe.

"We see that the electricity market does not work anymore. because it is massively disrupted due to Putin's manipulations," she said.

So far, no positive prospects seem to be looming ahead as Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soder said negotiations with foreign partners have not yet helped Germany to find an alternative to Russian gas, lamenting that "visits that were made previously — to Qatar, Norway, Canada — did not help to find a replacement."