Putin threatens gas throttling: Where is the Nord Stream turbine?

Putin threatens gas throttling
Where is Nord Stream Turbine?

By Jan Kangar
07/20/2022, 2:21 PM

Maintenance work on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline is nearing completion. Russian President Vladimir Putin has hinted that gas will flow back to Germany – albeit in limited quantities. The Kremlin justifies the disappearance of a turbine serviced in Canada.

In June, Russian energy giant Gazprom sharply cut gas supplies through a Baltic Sea pipeline that has been under maintenance for days. The reason for the short supply: A turbine from Siemens Energy that had been serviced in Canada was missing. The turbine should now be on its way to Russia. But where exactly is the turbine?

The turbine’s destination is a compressor station in Bordovaya, Russia. According to Gazprom, this is necessary for the operation of Nord Stream 1. The location is northwest of St. Petersburg and about 20 kilometers from the Finnish border.

The turbine is to be delivered to Russia via a stop in Germany. Because restrictions imposed by the Canadian government prohibit the device from being transported directly from Canada to Russia. The federal government argues that turbine supplies from Germany do not breach EU sanctions because they are not aimed at gas transport.

The Union Economy Ministry did not provide any information on the location of the turbine, justifying it with safety concerns and citing statements by the manufacturer, Siemens Energy, that all steps are being taken to ensure that the turbine can be quickly transported and put into use. Possible. When asked by ntv.de, the company did not want to comment on the location of the turbine. Gazprom, the owner of the turbine, could not be reached. According to the Russian government, neither the machine nor the relevant documents arrived.

First Finland, then Russia

According to Russian business newspaper Kommersant, the turbine arrived in Germany by plane last Sunday. It was then to be shipped across the Baltic Sea to Finland. Overland we pass Helsinki and continue to the Russian border. According to Kommersant, the turbine will arrive in Russia next Sunday, depending on the duration of customs clearance. Installation typically takes three or four days, it said. The turbine can then start operating.

No gas is currently flowing through the pipeline due to maintenance work – due to be completed tomorrow, Thursday. If Gazprom starts sending gas to Germany again, it should reach pre-maintenance levels. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened that if Gazprom does not fix the turbine in Canada in time, the efficiency will drop further.