The reopening of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which was scheduled for this Saturday, was canceled after the detection of an oil leak, the Russian company Gazprom announced this afternoon. quoted by Bloomberg.
The company has no forecast for the resumption of activity, but adds that the leak was detected in the main turbine of the compressor at the Portovaya station, near Saint Petersburg, and shares on Telegram what it says is an image of what happened.
Gazprom added that such leaks had already been detected in other turbines that are now out of operation, but “complete elimination of oil leaks is only possible with the intervention of a specialized repair company.”
The reopening of the gas pipeline would be a relief for several European countries, without ending fears of new interruptions in winter in this equipment that connects Russia with northern Germany.
The dispatch orders, published on the website of the company Nord Stream, operator of the gas pipeline, indicated that the supply should be restarted at 02:00 local time (00:00 GMT) at 20% of its normal capacity, that is, say, the same level as it was before the maintenance work.
The works began last Wednesday and the Russian group Grazprom justified the suspension of gas deliveries with the need for maintenance in a gas pipeline compressor station, located in Russia.
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.
To make up for the shortage, European countries are trying to find other suppliers and reduce consumption, at a time when gas prices are soaring in the markets.
Source: TSF
