While more and more European countries are concerned about their gas supplies due to a “technical problem” in Russia, the Gazprom boss has already prepared an alternative proposal: namely the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which has not been commissioned due to the crisis in Ukraine. According to CEO Alexej Miller, this would be ‘ready for use immediately’.
It was only on Tuesday that it was announced that Russia will only be able to supply Europe with significantly less gas via Nord Stream 1 due to technical problems. This is especially explosive for Germany, as it is the main supply line for the country.
Just a day after Scholz, Macron and Draghi traveled to Kiev, it was also announced that France was no longer receiving Russian gas and Italy only about 50 percent of the amount ordered.
“Not all turbines fit”
Miller justified the failure by saying that a compressor station had failed and the necessary spare parts could not be ordered due to Western sanctions. “The turbine is in the factory, Siemens cannot pick it up and not all other turbines fit,” he told AFP news agency.
In Germany, the argument is considered advanced – Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) previously placed political calculations behind the action. Russia wants to push up prices even further, he says.
Is Nord Stream 2 coming?
More deliveries are immediately possible, emphasizes Miller, namely via the on-hold pipeline Nord Stream 2. The pipeline through the North Sea, which was only recently constructed, was only recently delivered, but the gas buyers were there because of the Russian war of aggression. not to activate them.
Miller’s move now raises the suspicion that Russia, by restricting supplies, also wants to force the pipeline to go into operation.
“Our product, our rules”
In principle, Miller also made it clear that when supplying gas to other countries, you must comply with Russian rules. “Our product, our rules,” he emphasized on the fringes of the St. Petersburg economic forum — adding, “We don’t play by rules we didn’t make.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
