Russian Gas Giant Gazprom To Cut Gas Flows To Europe Down To 20%

The Nord Stream natural gas pipelines run under the Baltic Sea and sends gas from Russia to Germany and countries located in Europe.

By Adam Butler, SSJ Correspondent
July 27, 2022 10:00 am UTC
Modified: July 27, 2022 10:00 am

EUROPE - Russian state owned energy corporation Gazprom had stated that it will reduce gas flows through the Nord Stream to 20% of its normal capacity on July 27th, 2022, taking injection down to 33 mln cubic meters of gas per day, to Europe, due to another Siemens turbine being shut down at the Portovaya compressor station, according to TASS

According to sources close to the state-run gas company, says Gazprom is insisting on the complete removal of any and all sanctions that affect the supply of engines to Russia and are asking for an official explanation from the EU Commission that the transport of gas turbines to Russia is not prohibited by said sanctions.

Once these cuts are made, reducing the flow to 33 mln cubic meters through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, it will become the lowest supply line by volume, currently supplying Europe with gas.

As of now, the Ukrainian gas route is supplying approximately 41.7 mln cubic meters per day, and the Nord Stream 1 pipeline will become lower than this gas flow.

The turbine which had previously been repaired by Siemens in Canada is on its way back to Russia; however, it has met with delays as Gazprom is requiring documentation stating the return does not violate the sanctions which have been imposed by Canada, the UK, and the US.

President Zelenskiy of Ukraine has accused Moscow of initiating a gas resources war in regards to Gazprom stopping the turbine return, due to a technicality, according to The Guardian.

Russia has already made the decision to halt gas supplies to Europe as a strike at countries that are currently backing Ukraine, amid Russia's ongoing military operation in the region, according to Reuters. This last summation comes as Russia signed a grain export deal to allow the passage of grain from Ukraine, at the same time, attacking the Black Sea port of Odesa with cruise missiles.

The United Nations has stated the grain ships will sail with the first set of ships setting to sail from Ukraine in a matter of days, under the new deal agreed on Friday, even though another missile had hit Odesa this morning.

On Tuesday, EU countries are set to approve an emergency proposal that will allow Europe to reduce its demand for gas. This will in effect allow themselves to further reduce the EU's dependence on Russian energy sources while they prepare for a complete cut-off, which is being expected at any time.

European Union energy policy chief Kadri Simson stated on Tuesday "We know that there is no technical reason to do so. This is a politically motivated step, and we have to be ready for that. And exactly for that reason, the pre-emptive reduction of our gas demand is a wise strategy".

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock spoke on measures conserving gas in light of the new cuts, saying "We will not be divided because gas is scarce, instead we stand together, and that is the most important signal to the Russian president".