After the leaks in the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea, Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered gas deliveries through the still operational part of Nord Stream 2. “All you have to do is turn on the tap,” Putin said during a meeting on Wednesday. performing at the Russian Energy Week in Moscow. The tube was probably not so badly damaged that it could no longer be used, he said.
At the end of September, after explosions in the Baltic Sea, serious damage was discovered to the two tubes of Nord Stream 1 and one tube of Nord Stream 2 in the Baltic Sea. According to inside information, there had been at least two explosions, which led to four leaks. The EU, NATO and security circles, among others, spoke directly of sabotage as the cause.
“This is an act of international terrorism”
Putin spoke of an international terrorist attack on the pipelines. “There is no doubt that this is an act of international terrorism, a very dangerous precedent,” he said. The goal is to finally break EU-Russia relations and weaken Europe. Putin named the United States, among others, as alleged beneficiaries of the sabotage. The Kremlin chief had previously blamed the West for the leaks.
In early September, Russia halted gas supplies through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, citing technical issues that sanctions cannot resolve. The completed but uncertified and never commissioned Nord Stream 2 pipeline is at a standstill due to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia has been pushing for the commissioning for months.
Creating a gas roundabout in Turkey
Three of the Nord Stream pipes are damaged. This means that only one part of Nord Stream 2, with an annual capacity of 27.5 billion cubic meters, is still functional. Russia could divert supplies for the damaged Nord Stream pipeline to the Black Sea to create a major European gas hub in Turkey, Putin said.
In addition, Putin announced that he would keep his oil production and exports at current levels until 2025. Despite Western sanctions, Russia will not give up its world leadership in the energy market, Putin said. He welcomed OPEC+’s announcement last week that it would cut production to keep oil prices stable. Russia plans to continue working with the Saudi Arabia-led OPEC group.
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.
