Russia: Russia has resumed pumping gas into Europe through its largest pipeline after warnings it could halt or stop supplies altogether.
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline resumed after a 10-day maintenance break but at a reduced level. On Wednesday, the European Commission urged countries to cut gas use by 15% over the next seven months if Russia stops supplying Europe.
Russia supplied 40% of natural gas to Europe last year.
Germany was the continent’s biggest importer in 2020 but has reduced its reliance on Russian gas from 55% to 35%. Eventually, he wants to stop using gas from Russia completely.
Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to play down fears, promising that state gas firm Gazprom would fulfil all of its contractual obligations. His spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, denied that Russia was using the gas for political blackmail.
But the pipeline is delivering only 40% of its capacity, and the head of Germany’s network regulator warned that the resumption of gas flow was not a sign that tensions were easing.
Gazprom cut the gas flow through Nord Stream 1 last month, blaming the delayed return – due to sanctions – of a critical piece of equipment serviced in Canada.
The turbine is now believed to be on its way back to Russia, but President Putin recently said that if it is not returned, supply would have to be reduced further.
He has also pointed out that another machine is due to be sent for service soon, according to Russia’s Tass news agency. The continued reduction in gas supply through Nord Stream 1 could make it difficult for countries to refill their stores before winter when gas usage is high.
European countries are looking for alternative gas suppliers, for example, LNG from the US, which can be transported by ship.
But building the infrastructure needed to import gas from new suppliers can be costly and time-consuming, making it unlikely that Russian gas can be replaced entirely before winter.
Instead, it may be necessary to cut gas consumption. On Wednesday, the president of the European Union Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, set a voluntary target for all EU countries to reduce their gas use by 15% announced.
In late February, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany abruptly halted plans to open a new Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would double Russian gas supplies to Germany.
Critics of the Nord Stream 2 project have long argued that it would give Russia too much control over Europe’s energy supply.
