The turbine manufacturer Siemens Energy declared this Friday that the oil leaks do not technically justify the paralysis of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, decided by the Russian gas company Gazprom after the discovery of discharges in a turbine.
“As a turbine manufacturer, we can say that such a finding does not constitute a technical reason to stop operations,” Siemens Energy said in a statement, noting that in the past the existence “of these types of leaks did not lead to cessation.” of operations”.
Gazprom announced today that the Nord Stream pipeline, vital for supplying Europe, will stop “completely” to repair a turbine, after being idle for three days for maintenance.
In a statement, Gazprom said it had discovered “oil leaks” from the turbine during this maintenance operation and said that until it is repaired, the gas supply will be “completely suspended.”
Russia was due to resume gas supplies through the pipeline on Saturday after a three-day interruption.
The Kremlin had indicated today that the operation of the gas pipeline is “threatened” by the shortage of spare parts due to the sanctions imposed on Moscow after the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine.
Gazprom has been reducing gas supplies through Nord Stream in recent months and had already carried out maintenance work for 10 days in July, before resuming deliveries at a more limited level.
In the context of the war in Ukraine – which began on February 24 – energy has been at the center of a tug-of-war between Moscow and Western countries, which accuse Russia of using gas “as a weapon”.
Source: TSF
