The message sent to the Europeans by Gazprom, and thus by the Kremlin, is not a warning. This is a promise that Russia makes to Europe in the difficult times ahead. In a two-minute video, a Nord Stream 1 pipeline technician is seen walking slowly to cut off gas to Europe, which will gradually experience cold, hunger and darkness.
This 2-minute video is soundtracked by a melancholic, almost gloomy Russian song. We see gas stoves going out, the streets of various European capitals emptying out, solar panels and hydroelectric plants struggling to produce and the European flag waving in what we assume to be a freezing wind.
Cautious France, worried Europe
Gazprom announced on Friday that the Nord Stream that supplies Europe and was due to resume service this Saturday after a three-day interruption for maintenance operations, will finally stop “completely.” Reason, the repair of a turbine, without specifying a recovery date.
Germany’s Siemens, which maintains the Nord Stream 1 turbines, was excluded from the decision and believes the leak does not justify stopping the pipeline. The Russian gas company also cut deliveries to Engie on September 1, citing unpaid bills as a pretext.
France is cautious, but not worried. Its gas stocks are 91% full, giving two months in advance at the traditional rate. But for other European countries, the fear of facing winter with little or no heating is strong. European equities are only 80% full on average, compared to the usual 82% when things are going well.
During a conference, Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for Economy, assured however that the European Union has “prepared” for a total cut. The affected countries are already adopting energy saving measures and are already calling on the population and companies to adopt measures of sobriety.
Russia burns excess gas
Gazprom’s video is Moscow’s response to Brussels. And, to add to the pressure, Russia is openly burning excess gas. By cutting off deliveries to Europe, it finds itself with a surplus that it cannot store or sell to others due to a lack of infrastructure. The European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simon, confirmed this information that the BBC had revealed at the end of August.
According to experts, Gazprom burns almost 4.34 million cubic meters of natural gas every day near the Russian border with Finland, releasing 9,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every day. A large-scale flame is visible from Finland and was filmed by the country’s public television. YLE.
Source: BFM TV
