Turbine dispute becomes a posse
Kremlin calls report on import blockade “nonsense”
07/22/2022, 3:18 p.m
The gas turbine, which is said to be so important for the continued operation of Nord Stream 1, is stuck in Germany. According to insiders, a permit from Russia for further transport is missing. Kremlin spokesman Peskov denies this. But doubts are growing that Moscow wants to take the turbine back at all.
According to Russia, the turbine for the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline serviced in Canada is not stuck in Germany for lack of a Russian import permit. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov contradicted a corresponding report, which said that Russia was still blocking further transport to the country. Peskow describes the report as “nonsense”. The insiders quoted there are wrong.
According to the report, the turbine was flown from Montreal to Cologne on July 17 by the logistics company Challenge Group. It is unclear when the turbine, which is around twelve meters long, can be brought to Russia. It could take days or even weeks, the insiders said. The Ministry of Economy declined to comment. Russia argues that the lack of a turbine means that less gas can flow through the pipeline.
The federal government considers this to be an advanced argument, but nevertheless advocated delivery of the turbine so as not to give Russia an excuse. Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck said on Thursday that the “cabal around the turbine from Canada” was an example of Russia’s politicization of technical issues. “One sometimes has the impression that Russia no longer wants to take them back,” said the Green politician.
Gazprom wants turbine “as soon as possible”
Russia’s energy giant Gazprom, whose subsidiary Nord Stream AG owns the turbine, cites missing documents as the reason for the delay. Siemens Energy explained that turbine maintenance is, under normal circumstances, an absolutely routine operation. “Of course we want to transport the turbine back to its place of use as quickly as possible. How long that takes is not entirely within our sphere of influence.”
The turbine was in Canada for routine maintenance. The country had initially blocked a return in view of the international sanctions against Russia. However, under pressure from the federal government, the turbine was brought to Germany in order to be transported from there to Russia.