Gazprom PJSC will cut shipments via the link to Germany to about 20 per cent of its capacity from 7 a.m. Moscow time on Wednesday, the Russian gas giant said in a statement. One more gas turbine, crucial for the supply, is due for maintenance and will be taken out of service then, according to the company.
“It puts stress on Europe for gas curtailments,” said Mauro Chavez Rodriguez, research director for European gas & LNG at Wood Mackenzie Ltd. “If there are no effective gas and electricity demand savings implemented now there will be inevitable curtailments for industries in the case of cold winter.”
One turbine that was recently serviced is now stuck en route to Russia from Germany amid delays related to paperwork. The arrival of that component would allow flows at 40 per cent, Putin has said. Since only one turbine is now left in working condition in Russia, based on Gazprom’s statements, the part from Canada will be the second one. Normally, the station needs six major turbines.
Moscow has been curbing gas shipments to the European Union for months, opening itself up to accusations that it’s using energy as a weapon, with regional tensions high following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin has staunchly rejected the allegation.The EU still relies on the little gas its getting from Russia to fill its winter stockpiles.