In Germany, for example, it was feared that the gas pipeline would not be opened after a maintenance break. Concern about the sufficiency of natural gas has also prompted the EU Commission to draw up proposals for regulating gas.
The direct gas pipeline Nord Stream 1 running between Germany and Russia is open again, news agencies say. Gas started flowing from the pipe early on Thursday. However, only forty percent of the gas pipeline’s delivery capacity is used, says the BBC. (you switch to another service)
The natural gas pipeline has been on maintenance break for ten days. Therefore, it has been speculated whether the Russian state energy company Gazprom will continue gas deliveries. Especially in Germany, there have been fears that the gas pipeline will not be opened after the maintenance break. In Germany, half of the homes are heated with gas.
During the maintenance break, the energy company Uniper, which imports gas to Germany, has had to buy replacement gas from the market at a higher price.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday, according to news agency Reuters, that it is unclear in what condition the Nord Stream 1 turbine will be returned after maintenance repairs in Canada. According to Putin, there is also a risk that the serviced equipment might be switched off, which would stop the gas flows through Nord Stream 1.
The gas pipeline is closely connected to Russia’s war of aggression
The gas pipeline has come to symbolize Europe’s dependence on Russian energy after Russia’s war of aggression has affected gas supplies in many countries. Russia has been a significant gas supplier to the EU.
Russia’s state-owned gas company Gazprom has suspended gas deliveries to many countries, including Finland, because the countries have not agreed to pay for gas deliveries with the rubles demanded by Russia.
The background is Russia’s attack on Ukraine and the sanctions imposed by the EU on Russia.
As concern about the sufficiency of natural gas has grown in Europe, the European Commission proposed yesterday to regulate gas in case of winter. The Commission proposed that member states voluntarily reduce their natural gas consumption by 15 percent from the beginning of August until the end of March next year. This would already prepare for the coming winter and possible gas supply interruptions from Russia.
The energy ministers of the EU countries will meet to discuss the Commission’s proposals in an extraordinary meeting next week.