Russia again cuts off gas supply to Germany citing facility maintenance... "Incomprehensible maintenance"

"Over 1000 Hours of Operation Requires Inspection"
Germany: "Technically Incomprehensible Maintenance"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom has once again halted gas supply through the pipeline connected to Germany. While Russia claims the supply will be stopped for three days due to facility maintenance, Germany is protesting, calling the decision technically incomprehensible. As Russia uses gas supply cuts as leverage to pressure the West, concerns are growing over a potential energy crisis in Europe this winter.

According to AFP on the 31st (local time), Gazprom cut off natural gas supply to Germany on that day. In a statement, Gazprom announced that it would stop gas supply for three days from that day until the 3rd of next month to carry out maintenance on the compressor station of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which connects Russia and Germany via the Baltic Sea seabed.

Gazprom explained that "inspection is required every time the pipeline operates for over 1,000 hours," and stated that the reason for this supply suspension is purely technical with no political issues involved. Gazprom also stated that gas supply to Germany would resume after the three-day inspection is completed.

The Russian government also emphasized that gas supply would resume after the facility maintenance. Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, said at a press briefing that regarding whether gas supply through Nord Stream 1 would resume on the 3rd of next month after maintenance, "There will be no disruption to supply except for technical issues caused by sanctions."

However, the German government has raised doubts about Gazprom’s explanation for the gas supply suspension. Klaus M?ller, head of Germany’s Federal Network Agency, the energy regulatory authority, pointed out that it is a "technically incomprehensible decision." M?ller said, "Every time so-called maintenance is done, (Russia) has made political decisions," adding, "Claiming to maintain Nord Stream 1 is likely an excuse to pressure Europe by cutting energy supply."

Gazprom also halted gas supply through Nord Stream 1 for ten days last month, citing maintenance work. After the maintenance was completed, supply resumed as scheduled, but just a few days later, Gazprom reduced supply significantly, citing technical problems. Since mid-June, Gazprom had already reduced gas supply through Nord Stream 1 to 40% of the usual volume, and now it has further cut it to about 20%, half of that amount.

Russia claims that the turbine engines necessary for operating Nord Stream 1 were sent abroad for repairs but have not been returned due to Western sanctions related to the Ukraine war. However, German officials are protesting, saying that Russia is deliberately refusing to receive the repaired turbines by demanding various documents.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.