Russian gas giant Gazprom stated this week that Western sanctions have blocked the return of the Nord Stream turbine, leaving the pipeline operating at only a fraction of its capacity.
“Sanctions from Canada, the European Union and the United Kingdom, along with the current contract constraints with Siemens, make it impossible for the 073 turbine to reach the Portovaya compressor station,” Gazprom said on Telegram.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz—during a visit to the Siemens Energy plant in Mülheim an der Ruhr, where the turbine is housed—placed the responsibility on Moscow for the delays in moving the turbine intended for Nord Stream and its ability to run at full capacity.
Scholz noted that for the turbine to reach its destination, Gazprom’s clearance would be sufficient, yet this has not materialized even though all relevant transport permits were in place by Germany and other involved nations.
Gazprom had previously halted gas supplies for ten days in July for maintenance and to address turbine shortages.
Operations later resumed but at only 20% of the pipeline’s capacity, as Moscow maintains that technical problems remain unresolved.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov today reiterated that Moscow must ensure sanctions stop pressuring the turbine and that it cannot be halted by remote means.