increase in prices
October futures traded at $2,810.5 per thousand cubic meters (+26.6%), according to Europe’s largest central TTF index, RIA Novosti reported. Prices reached a maximum of $2917.4 per thousand cubic meters (31.4%). Futures then traded at $2,733.2 per thousand cubic meters (+23%).
On August 19, a message appeared on Gazprom’s Telegram channel that from August 31, “the only working gas compressor unit Trent 60 will be stopped for three days for maintenance and planned preventive work”. The company noted that a series of routine maintenance “will be carried out jointly with Siemens experts, according to the existing maintenance contract.” However, later Siemens started to deny participation of its employees in the repair.
Gazprom also explained that “according to Siemens’ technical documentation, the unit must be serviced every 1000 hours”. “Inspection of the boat for cracks, potholes, deformations, burn spots, cleaning of the boat; removing oil supply systems, air, combustion gases for leaks, opening connections and eliminating the causes of leaks; checking the safety valves and adjusting the airflow control system.
The Russian company then promised that gas transport would be restored to 33 million cubic meters on September 2, “due to the completion of the work and the absence of technical malfunctions of the unit.” m per day
Closing Nord Stream indefinitely
On September 2, it became known that Nord Stream could not be launched on the promised date, since the Trent 60 gas pumping unit was found to “leak oil from the connectors of the terminal connections of the cable lines with a mixture of sealing compounds. low and medium pressure rotor speed sensors.
“Oil has been detected in the cable plug connection of the BPE2 subplate on the engine. Apart from the noise and heat insulation casing, oil was also found in the wiring area in the external terminal box of the GPA automatic control system. The act of detecting an oil spill was also signed by Siemens representatives, Gazprom’s Telegrm channel reported.
The company announced that they received a warning from Rostekhnadzor that “detected malfunctions and damages do not allow safe and trouble-free operation of the gas turbine engine”.
“In connection with the identified serious violations, further operation of the Trent 60 gas compressor unit must be suspended. Until comments on the operation of the equipment are eliminated, gas transport to the Nord Stream gas pipeline is completely stopped.” Said the Russian company.
Gazprom also said that a letter was “sent to Christian Bruch, President and CEO of Siemens Energy AG”, about the detected malfunctions of the Trent 60 unit and the need for their elimination.
“Siemens participates in repair work in accordance with the current contract, detects faults, signs oil leak detection report and is ready to repair. There is simply nowhere to repair, ”says Gazprom’s Telegram message of September 3.
Restriction of deliveries to Europe
The shutdown of Nord Stream deprived European countries of 33 million cubic meters of gas per day and, accordingly, one billion cubic meters per month. Gas deliveries through this pipeline have been gradually decreasing since mid-June when repairs to Nord Stream turbines came under new Canadian sanctions. In particular, one of the turbines got stuck during repairs in Canada.
On June 14, Gazprom was forced to limit the work at the Portovaya compressor station, which pumped gas into the Nord Stream, “due to the untimely return of gas pumping units by the German company Siemens from repair”: the gas supply fell to 100 million cubic meters . m per day Already on June 15, the company announced that “another Siemens gas turbine engine stopped working, after which the daily capacity of the compressor station was reduced to 67 million cubic meters. m per day
Since the end of July, the pipeline has been producing only 20% of the approximately 170 million cubic meters per day production capacity since Nord Stream 1 started to operate with only one turbine.
In the summer, Nord Stream 1 was already closing. On July 11, both lines of the gas pipeline were shut down for 10 days for annual scheduled maintenance, including testing of mechanical components and automation systems. At that time, Russian gas continued to flow to European countries through only one transit line through Ukraine.
Source: Gazeta
Jackson Ruhl is a tech and sci-fi expert, who writes for “Social Bites”. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of technology and science fiction.