NORD STREAM 1 WILL BE CLOSED FOR THREE DAYS, STORAGE IN EUROPE FEARED
(Portal) – Russia will halt gas supplies to Europe for three days at the end of August, Gazprom said on Friday, while European countries scramble to build up gas supplies in anticipation of next winter.
The Russian operator has announced that maintenance will be required on the compressor of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, which supplies Europe with Russian natural gas through the Baltic Sea.
The pipeline will be closed from August 31st to September 2nd.
This gas pipeline closure is likely to disrupt supplies once again to Germany, which is heavily dependent on Russian gas for its industry.
The suspension of supplies reflects the stalemate in talks between Moscow and the European Union on energy issues, while rising energy prices are fueling inflationary pressures and fueling fears of a recession.
Germany has already had to bail out Uniper, the largest importer of Russian gas in Germany, in the amount of 15 billion euros. Uniper was particularly affected by Russia’s decision to cut supplies, forcing it to source gas elsewhere at much higher prices.
Once maintenance work on Nord Stream 1 is completed, the current flow of 33 million cubic meters per day will resume, Gazprom assured.
(Portal report; French version Elitsa Gadeva and Matthieu Protard, edited by Tangi Salaün)