Gas flow from the Nord Stream pipeline to Germany resumed this Thursday after a ten-day maintenance pause, with the restart confirmed by flow data released by the pipeline operator. The initial inflow is about a third of the system’s maximum sending capacity, according to updates from Klauss Müller, who leads Germany’s federal network regulator. The latest figures show the flow beginning at 06:00 local time, which is 04:00 GMT, marking the restart after the scheduled maintenance window.
At the start of operations, the regulator estimated that Nord Stream 1 was delivering roughly 530 GWh per day, equating to approximately 30 percent of the capacity of the directly connected gas network. This pipeline runs from Russia into Germany along the Baltic coast, serving as a critical link in the regional energy supply chain that connects Baltic sources with central European demand.
The head of the agency noted that the current level of supply is likely to be stable for the next two hours at a minimum, with changes throughout the day expected to be limited. This caveat reflects the highly variable nature of gas flows, which can be influenced by field conditions, compressor performance, and international market dynamics, even as operators aim to keep the system within predictable ranges for grid planning and consumer supply security.
Earlier this summer, the Nord Stream system experienced interruptions in natural gas deliveries during routine maintenance activities. While the maintenance work is a standard safety and efficiency practice in the energy sector, authorities have continually monitored potential risks of longer outages, especially given the broader geopolitical and economic implications for European energy security.
In parallel, the government has reported a significant shift in Russia-related gas dependencies. Efforts to diversify supply and curb imports have driven a notable decline in reliance on Russian natural gas from 55 percent in February to about 26 percent in recent months. This transition reflects strategic measures across the energy sector, including the temporary suspension of flows through Nord Stream as well as accelerated procurement from alternate sources and corridors. The development underscores the ongoing evolution of Europe’s gas landscape as countries work to bolster resilience while balancing price and supply considerations in a changing global market. [CITATION NEEDED]