Russia on Wednesday cut off supplies via the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, the main route for transporting Russian natural gas to the European Union. According to Reuters, this is the result of data obtained when the pipeline entered Germany. The announced closure is expected to last until Saturday morning. Russian gas company Gazprom said about two weeks ago that the only remaining compressor station needed maintenance.
The interruption of gas supplies to Europe on Wednesday via the main gas pipeline escalated the economic war between Moscow and the European Union | Source: Reuters
The interruption of gas supplies to Europe on Wednesday via the main gas pipeline has escalated the economic war between Moscow and the European Union, according to Reuters. According to the agency, the prospects of an economic recession in Europe and the need to introduce austerity measures regarding gas consumption in some EU countries are also increasing.
Data from entry points connecting Nord Stream 1 to the German gas system confirmed that gas flows had dropped to zero early Wednesday morning.
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Nord Stream 1 transports gas from Russia to Germany along the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Gas pipelines are connected to it from Germany to other countries, including the Czech Republic. The situation surrounding Russian gas supplies became more complicated when Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine in February, and the European Union adopted a series of anti-Russian sanctions in response.
On August 19, Gazprom announced that gas transportation at Nord Stream 1 should resume after a three-day hiatus if there were no technical problems. Gas should start flowing through the pipeline again on Saturday at 3:00 AM CET. But European governments fear that Moscow will extend the blackout in response to Western sanctions.
Gazprom justifies cutting gas supplies due to technical problems, including missing turbines at the Portofaga plant. But the European Union says the technical problems are just an excuse and that Moscow is using gas as a weapon to advance its interests.
