Vitaly Markelov, who holds a senior role at Gazprom, spoke on Russia 24 regarding ongoing discussions with Western partners about gas deliveries. He asserted that Gazprom has fulfilled its contractual duties and challenged claims that the company has failed to meet its obligations. Markelov stressed that the initial contract violations originated with Western counterparties and that Siemens did not complete its servicing commitments for compressor stations. He argued that these shortfalls contributed to the reduction in gas supply observed in Europe.
To support his position, Markelov indicated that Gazprom would publish a portion of the correspondence with its partners. He emphasized that European partners have accused Gazprom of reducing gas supplies without justification, yet he maintained that the opposite is true. According to him, the responsibility for maintaining compressor stations rests with the equipment providers and their service obligations, which have not been adequately fulfilled.
Markelov noted that Siemens managed to fix only a portion of the malfunctions in the turbine systems associated with the gas pipeline. He claimed that Gazprom sent ten letters to Siemens, but the company did not address more than a quarter of the faults. For the remainder, Markelov said, there were no constructive proposals to restore the safety and reliability of the motors in full alignment with all regulatory standards in the Russian Federation.
The Gazprom executive pointed out that Siemens has unrestricted access to the Portovaya compressor station and possesses the necessary resources to perform the required maintenance. He argued that the lack of timely, effective service from the turbine equipment supplier undermines the integrity of the gas delivery chain and raises questions about long-term reliability.
Additionally, Markelov highlighted issues surrounding the delivery of gas turbine engines from Canada to Germany, claiming that these shipments did not conform to contractual terms. He warned that such deviations could create exposure to potential sanctions from the European Union and stated that Gazprom does not currently possess a complete set of documents to authorize the transportation and repair of engines for Nord Stream under existing agreements.
In closing, Markelov urged partners to resolve outstanding issues promptly to restore stability to the gas supply situation. He underscored the need for timely cooperation and transparent communication to ensure continued energy security for consumers in Europe and beyond.
In related remarks on the preceding day, German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck indicated that Berlin had provided all required documentation to facilitate the shipment of the turbine needed for Nord Stream back to Russia, signaling a possible progress point in the ongoing discussions about pipeline maintenance and energy guarantees. This development was noted as part of the broader context of regulatory compliance and cross-border energy collaboration in the bilateral dialogues surrounding gas infrastructure and continuity of supply.