Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised gas giant Gazprom will fully meet its obligations to suppliers at a time when supplies in Europe are dwindling.
“Gazprom has fulfilled, continues to fulfill and will fully fulfill its obligations if anyone needs them,” the Russian head of state assured at a press conference after the meeting of the so-called Russia, Turkey and Astana Group. Iran, and it happened in Tehran.
Putin accused Russian state company “partners” of “blaming or trying to blame Russia and Gazprom for their mistakes”, warning that Europeans had bet on “unconventional energy sources”.
“Gazprom is ready to pump as much as needed,” he insisted, implying that the West is in trouble because it has “closed” hydrocarbon supply channels by accepting sanctions against Moscow.
Gazprom last month cut gas supplies to Germany via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline by 60%.
Last week, Russian gas giant Gazprom said the smooth operation of Nord Stream, which transports Russian gas to Germany and has been suspended since the 11th, depends on the recovery of some turbines stranded in Canada due to sanctions imposed. EU to Russia since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine.
However, on Monday, the German government explained that the replacement of the turbine in the pipeline that transports Russian gas to Europe is only planned for September and insisted that there should be no technical barriers to imports.
At the same time, Germany’s biggest Russian gas importer revealed it had received a letter from Russia’s Gazprom alleging “force majeure” which it blamed on past and current ‘shortages’ in gas supplies, a claim the German firm denied.
The Russian gas giant cited technical problems involving equipment that partner Siemens Energy had sent to Canada for refurbishing and could not be returned due to sanctions imposed over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Canadian government insisted a week earlier that it would allow Germany to supply a gas turbine that would power a compressor station, citing “extreme difficulties” the German economy would suffer without sufficient gas supplies to keep factories running. and generate heat and electricity.
German politicians last month rejected Russia’s technical explanation for cutting gas flowing through Nord Stream 1, citing the Kremlin’s (Russian president) political move to sow uncertainty and further raise energy prices.
The operator of Nord Stream 1 in Germany promised this Tuesday that pipeline maintenance will be completed on July 21 as planned.
German officials are concerned that Russia may not be able to resume gas supplies after work is scheduled to end on Thursday and have cited technical reasons for not doing so.
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