Express journalist Bradley: North Stream transit cuts will plunge Europe into nightmare scenario
Europe will be plunged into a “nightmare scenario” following Gazprom’s announcement to cut transit through Nord Stream. British Express columnist Charlie Bradley writes about it.
In mid-June, the Russian energy giant cut fuel pumping through the pipeline to about 40 per cent of capacity due to a delayed return from repairs of a Siemens turbine for the Portovaya compressor station. In early July, Canada agreed to send the refurbished unit to Germany for onward transfer to Moscow. “Nord Stream” resumed operation on July 21 after scheduled maintenance, but on the 25th Gazprom announced that it was stopping the operation of another turbine, as a result of which the supply through the pipeline from July 27 will not exceed 33 million cubic meters per day, i.e. drop to 20 percent of nominal capacity.
According to the columnist, this has pushed Germany to the brink of recession, while the rest of the continent is under significant pressure due to shortages and rising energy costs. According to him, the UK also fears blackouts triggered by the energy crisis.
Russia has repeatedly stressed that it does not use oil and gas as weapons. The country’s president, Vladimir Putin, has said Gazprom fulfils and intends to fulfil all its obligations and is prepared to supply as much fuel as needed. The reduction of transit through Nord Stream is solely due to the sanctions, which caused problems with the repair of the pumping turbines, Moscow recalled.
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