Russia shuts down operations on major gas pipeline to Europe

The flow of Russian gas to Germany through the Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream has been suspended.

Operator Nord Stream AG said routine maintenance work would shut down the pipeline for 10 days starting Monday. During this time, all gas flows through the pipeline will be stopped.

The operator emphasized that the stop had previously been agreed with all partners.

Last month, the Russian energy giant slashed gas volumes shipped to Germany via the pipeline by 60%, amid operational problems caused by a serviced turbine not being returned on time from Canada.

However, Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck argued that it was “a political decision.”

In recent years, the maintenance-related supply gap via Nord Stream has been compensated by increased flows through Ukraine or Poland.

However, various officials and industry representatives told the FT they feared Russia might not be able to do so this time, leaving the continent facing gas shortages.

“Now, based on the pattern we’ve seen, it wouldn’t be very surprising if they found a small, technical detail and then they could say, ‘Now we can’t turn it on’.” Habeck said that at the end of June.

Nord Stream AG, majority-owned by Gazprom, insists maintenance information has been properly disclosed under the EU regulation on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency.

“The maintenance schedule has been closely coordinated with Nord Stream’s upstream and downstream partners,” it added.