Gazprom claims Canada-to-Germany gas turbine transfer not in step with contract
Supply of a Nord Stream 1 fuel turbine to Germany from Canada after upkeep was not in step with the contract, Gazprom’s senior supervisor stated on Friday, stepping up criticism of producer Siemens Power.
The feedback signalled a deepening of a row during which Russia has cited turbine issues as its motive for slicing fuel provide by way of Nord Stream 1 — its most important fuel hyperlink to Europe — to only 20 per cent of capability from Wednesday.
Vitaly Markelov, Gazprom’s deputy chief govt, additionally stated Russia had complained repeatedly to Siemens Power about issues with different generators.
“We have now repeatedly utilized to the Russian consultant workplace of Siemens about this, despatched 10 letters. Siemens fastened not more than 1 / 4 of the recognized bugs,” he stated in a TV interview.
He cited the serial numbers of three different engines that wanted restore by Siemens due to faults in Could and June that had put them in a state of compelled downtime.
Siemens Power declines to reply
Siemens Power declined to reply to Markelov’s feedback. The corporate referred to a earlier assertion made on Wednesday during which it stated it had no entry to the generators on website and had not obtained any harm experiences from Gazprom and so needed to assume the generators have been working usually.
European Union international locations have agreed to a proposal to voluntarily minimize their fuel consumption by 15 per cent this winter. This deal comes after Gazprom, Russia’s state-owned power company, stated it will additional minimize fuel flows via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany.
The European Union disputes Russia’s and Gazprom’s argument that turbine issues are in charge for the sharp drop in provide via the pipeline that hyperlinks Russia to Germany beneath the Baltic Sea. The shortfall has raised the chance of shortages and fuel rationing in Europe this winter.
Siemens Power has beforehand countered Gazprom’s criticism over its service by saying it’s as much as the Russian firm to file customs paperwork for the turbine’s return.
With either side buying and selling financial blows since Russia despatched its troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, the European Union has accused Russia of power blackmail, one thing the Kremlin denies.
Markelov stated the turbine that had been serviced in Canada had nonetheless not arrived again in Russia.
“It was despatched to Germany, to not Russia, with out Gazprom’s consent,” he stated, including that this created sanctions dangers.
Gazprom additionally must ship for restore different generators from the Portovaya compressor station.
“There isn’t any readability that the upkeep of the fuel turbine engines is not going to fall beneath the sanctions,” Markelov stated.
