Russian gas deliveries via the Nord Stream pipeline were suspended for three days on Wednesday. According to Moscow, the gas pipeline connecting the Siberian fields directly to northern Germany is officially under maintenance. But this new supply disruption further increases distrust between the Russians and the West.
Analysts are talking about a new round in power arm wrestling. Since this Wednesday (31) morning, Russia has once again interrupted natural gas supplies to Europe, which is normally run via the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline.
The pipeline was officially closed until Saturday due to “maintenance works”. Gazprom assures that this operation should be carried out “every 1000 hours”.
But the argument did not convince Berlin. The head of the German energy agency considers this operation “technically incomprehensible”. “Russia makes a political decision after every maintenance cut like this,” he said. On the occasion of France’s national celebration on July 14, President Emmanuel Macron even used the term “weapon of war” when classifying Russia’s energy bargain with the European continent.
Uncertainty
The uncertainty is even greater in the Baltic Sea port of Lubmin, where the pipeline ends, because this time, unlike July, the operation was not preplanned.
However, Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the sanctions against Moscow “did not allow normal maintenance and repair work” to be carried out, and that in July, the valve reopened only a limited percentage after maintenance had been carried out: 20%. Normal capacity of Nord Stream.
But German authorities are a little more relaxed about energy supplies this winter. The storage target set by Berlin for October should be reached at the beginning of September.
on the french side
Regarding gas, France has suffered from the gradual decrease in flow from Russia, and Russian giant Gazprom is expected to halt deliveries to French group Engie from Thursday.
Authorities and industrialists believe that France, as it diversifies its supply and moves towards filling its storage facilities, will have enough gas to survive a normal winter in terms of heating. However, in the case of a stronger cold, there may be a shortage.
As for electricity, the country does not have many nuclear reactors, twelve (of 56) have been shut down today due to corrosion problems, and the French electricity utility EDF will need to be restarted long enough for the cold period. In addition, hydraulic stocks are low in France, which will have to rely on imports from its neighbors, but here again uncertainties remain.
(with AFP)
source: Noticias
