Usually standing in front of a huge metal turbine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has denied Russia’s claim that technical problems are behind the sharp decline in natural gas flows to Germany.
He said the only reason the machine hasn’t been returned to Russia yet after performing maintenance work is because Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom doesn’t want it back.
The turbine, which has been at the center of a dispute between Germany and Gazprom, was put on display Wednesday at a news event in the western city of Mulheim an der Ruhr, where it had been in storage since it was returned from a renovation in Canada.
Gazprom and Russian President Vladimir V. Putin condemned turbine manufacturer Siemens Energy for delaying its return to Russia. They have repeatedly raised the need for it. “Required Documents and Instructions” and stated that its absence was the reason for reducing the gas flow to 20% of capacity.
After weeks of publishing only brief answers, the German side appeared intent on calling Gazprom and Mr Putin’s bluff.
Coverage of the Russian-Ukrainian War
“It is clear that nothing prevents the further transport and installation of this turbine in Russia. “There is absolutely no technical reason for the reduction in gas supply.”
European officials say Russia is cutting gas supplies to punish Europe for opposing the war in Ukraine. We have reduced the amount of gas we were using to just 40% of our available capacity. Last week it halved again.
Germany still depends on Russia to meet about a third of its natural gas demand, down from more than half before the war, but still enough to sway the country from cuts. Russia is struggling to stockpile enough fuel before demand rises in the winter.
Germany’s gas storage facilities were 69% full as of Wednesday, but officials told businesses and citizens to start cutting energy use wherever possible while the weather was still warm. Nearly half of all German homes are heated with gas, and in the event of a shortage, homes are prioritized, along with critical infrastructure such as hospitals and rescue services.
Putin has suggested that Germany could solve its gas problem by opening a second pipeline, Nord Stream 2, which was stalled days before Russia invaded Ukraine.
That proposal was echoed by former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who is close to Putin despite being ousted from his own party, the Social Democrats, and many Germans.In an interview with a German weekly magazine sternSchroeder, who met with the Russian president in Moscow last week, said the Kremlin was open to negotiations to end the war on the condition that Ukraine give up its claim to and ambitions for Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. said. Join NATO.
Asked about the prospects for the restart of Nord Stream 2, Scholz stifled a laugh, noting that Nord Stream 1, the two pipelines under the Baltic Sea, are already well-equipped, as are other land links through Ukraine. He pointed out that it was not used. Through Belarus and Poland – that Russia sanctioned.
“Nord Stream 1 has plenty of capacity,” he said. “All contracts concluded by Russia for the whole of Europe can be fulfilled with the help of this pipeline.”
Reduced natural gas flows sent European prices soaring to record highs. On Wednesday, it remained about twice as high as it was in mid-June, when Russia began restricting flow through the Nordstream 1 pipeline.
Siemens Energy head Christian Bruch, who appeared with Scholz, said his company regularly consults with Gazprom on turbine issues and that other Siemens turbines used in the pipeline can be used. said he wanted to return it. Taken for maintenance.
But the Russian company has a “different view” of the situation, he said, without elaborating.
“This turbine is ready to go,” Scholz said. “If Russia does not take this turbine now, it will show the whole world that it is just an excuse to reduce gas supplies to Germany.”
