Five turbines under repair
According to Gazprom’s Telegram channel, none of the Nord Stream 1 turbines remains in Canada. The message underscored that PortovayaCS equipment is not undergoing repair on Canadian soil at this time.
In an interview with CBC, former Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly stated that Ottawa intends to return the remaining Russian gas turbines that are subject to sanctions. She explained that Canada plans to hand back five turbines used along the pipeline route, even though the operator has declined to accept a turbine that was sent to Germany.
The report notes that in July, the Canadian government approved sending six turbines to Germany to facilitate eventual transfer to Gazprom, with maintenance work concentrated in Montreal. One turbine has already reached Germany, but Gazprom has refused to accept it under the current terms of the contract.
Gazprom cited sanctions regimes from Canada, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, along with Siemens’ contractual obligations, as preventing the delivery of unit 073 to PortovayaCS. A statement issued on August 3 highlighted that the transfer was not possible under those conditions.
On August 4, Gazprom announced that, in a move opposed to its terms, a turbine was sent to Germany without Gazprom’s consent, a development that the company described as not compliant with the contract. Canadian authorities also issued documents that did not align with the current contract for turbine removal. Gazprom warned of a risk that Ottawa might view the transfer as a breach, potentially revoking permits and hindering the repair of other Nord Stream engines in Canada.
“No excuse”
Despite Gazprom’s resistance, Joly told CBC that Canada plans to ship the remaining turbines to Germany. She asserted that Canada would not provide a pretext for Putin to expand energy deliveries to Europe and said the decision to return the turbines aligned with German preferences.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz indicated to CBC that Berlin would continue collaborating with Ottawa to secure the return of the turbines. He voiced the belief that there is a political understanding to cooperate and prevent any Russian scheme from affecting energy supply, emphasizing the shared goal of reducing economic leverage tied to the gas flow.
turbine passion
Canada’s sanctions also affected Nord Stream 1, a pipeline that delivers Russian gas to Germany and other European markets. During a maintenance episode in Canada, one turbine remained blocked for repairs, prompting Gazprom to reduce gas deliveries to roughly 20% of the pipeline’s maximum capacity. In late August, Gazprom announced a three-day halt for maintenance on August 31, described as routine and in line with existing service agreements. The company said Siemens technicians would oversee the maintenance, which follows the unit’s service schedule every 1000 hours according to Siemens documentation.
In mid-August, Klaus Müller, head of Germany’s Federal Network Agency, warned that a lingering interruption of Russian gas could still leave Germany with enough supply for about two to two-and-a-half months, depending on the scenario. On August 22, Scholz visited Canada for a three-day trip and spoke with reporters in Montreal about negotiating access to critical raw materials in exchange for Russian energy arrangements. He highlighted shared interests, including building a sustainable economy and exploring green hydrogen collaborations with Canada, described as a major resource partner with a stable democratic framework.